Forensic Psychology
Definition
The application of psychological science to questions arising in legal, criminal justice, and public policy contexts, spanning clinical assessment, investigative practice, and experimental research.
- Scope
- Legal, criminal justice and public policy contexts
- Includes
- Clinical assessment, investigative practice, experimental research
- Parent field
- Psychological science
- Typical role
- Expert assessment and consultation to courts
Common questions
How does forensic psychology differ from clinical psychology?+
Clinical psychology centres on diagnosis and treatment for the patient's benefit, while forensic psychology applies psychological assessment and research to answer a legal question, such as competency to stand trial or risk of reoffending, where the client is typically the court rather than the individual.
What does investigative practice within forensic psychology involve?+
It covers work such as offender profiling, interview and interrogation technique research, and eyewitness memory studies, applying psychological science to how investigations are conducted rather than only to courtroom assessment.
Related terms
- ANZAPPL
- Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, the primary regional professional society for forensic mental health practitioners.
- AP-LS
- American Psychology-Law Society, APA Division 41, the primary US professional society for forensic psychology, publisher of Law and Human Behavior.
- APA Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology
- The 2013 APA document setting professional and ethical standards for forensic psychologists in the US across eleven sections covering responsibilities, competence, relationships,...
- BPS Division of Forensic Psychology
- The British Psychological Society division that accredits forensic psychology training and awards Chartered Forensic Psychologist status in the UK.
- Clinical Forensic Psychology
- The branch of forensic psychology concerned with individual-level assessment for court purposes, including competency evaluations, insanity assessments, and violence risk assessment.
- Daubert Standard
- The US federal evidentiary standard (Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 1993) requiring that expert testimony be based on scientifically valid methods with...
- Frye Standard
- The US legal test for admissibility of scientific evidence, originating from Frye v. United States (1923), which required that a technique be...
- IHBAS
- Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, Delhi, providing forensic mental health evaluations under the Delhi state government framework.
- Investigative Psychology
- David Canter's empirically grounded approach to behavioural analysis, using multivariate statistical methods and systematic case comparison rather than clinical inference from interview-based...
- NIMHANS
- National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore; India's principal academic forensic mental health centre, providing court-ordered assessments and limited forensic treatment...
- Rehabilitation Council of India
- Indian statutory body regulating clinical psychology (and related professions); requires M.Phil. (Clinical Psychology) as the minimum registration qualification; no distinct forensic psychology...