Exam 1: An Introduction to Forensic Psychology

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a.Psychology and the law
-Psychology is viewed as a separate discipline to the law and is used to test various assumptions made by the law or legal system.
-E.g.,determining whether risk of violence can be accurately predicted using a specific assessment tool
b.Psychology in the law
-Psychological knowledge is applied directly within the context of the legal system as it operates.
-E.g.,the provision of expert testimony about factors that influence the accuracy of eyewitness identifications in a court case
c.Psychology of the law
-Psychology is used to study the law itself
-E.g.,a legal scholar examining whether certain laws have helped to reduce the crime rate

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a.Biological theories
-E.g.,Sheldon's constitutional theory suggests that body build and temperament are linked; mesomorphs,due to their aggressive nature and muscular build,are more likely to become involved in crime.
a.Sociological theories
-E.g.,Merton's strain theory suggests that certain people (e.g.,those from the lower class)have restricted access to legitimate means (e.g.,education)to achieve valued goals of success (e.g.,high paying jobs); some of these individuals will turn to illegitimate means (e.g.,crime)in an attempt to achieve these goals.
a.Psychological theories
-E.g.,Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation suggests that early separation of children from their mothers prevents effective social development from taking place; without effective social development,children will experience problems developing positive social relationships and will instead develop antisocial inclinations.