Forensic Psychology
Learn about Forensic Psychology and careers in this growing industry...
Stories of criminals and their motives always provide fascination and intrigue, and the proliferation in recent years of television shows dealing with crime scene investigators, profilers, and psychology experts in courtrooms has heightened interest among those wanting challenging and mentally stimulating careers.
Forensic Psychology Links
Forensic psychology is an area that deals specifically with understanding human behavior within the context of legal issues. And while an interest in forensic psychology might have started from watching television, those working in the field today describe its wide applicability to careers that are in high demand in diverse organizations.
In an April 2008 article in Monitor on Psychology, Psychologist and Criminal Justice Professor Alan M. Goldstein said that "forensic psychology is a booming area." He stated that practice areas within this specialty keep emerging, including assessing and managing workplace and school violence, assessing and evaluating clergy abuse, elder abuse (see Elder Abuse) and cases dealing with end-of-life issues.
Assessing, evaluating, and consulting
Forensic psychology professionals work in a variety of ways applying mental health expertise to the legal system.
One of the field’s main areas is assessing and evaluating clients on behalf of lawyers, social service agencies, prisons, and judges.
A number of psychological assessments exist for a wide variety of legal issues. For example, some tests determine if inmates or suspects are fit to stand trial. Others determine issues of a prisoner’s sanity or insanity, or if prisoners are too violent or dangerous to be released into the community.
Attorneys especially rely on these psychological assessments and evaluations. For example, in civil suits or personal-injury cases, those working in forensic psychology use specialized assessments to determine the extent of injury or personal suffering.
They also consult with attorneys on jury selection techniques, and help them develop their cases by teaching them persuasive arguments.
In child abuse, rape, and domestic violence (see Domestic Violence) cases, those working in forensic psychology consult with attorneys, the courts, and those working for social service agencies on the extent of psychological harm or damage, and the truth of the allegations or testimony.
Forensic psychology professionals might be employed by a social service agency, such as a rape crisis center or domestic violence organization, or hospital, to provide immediate mental health services and evaluation after a reported crime or abuse.
Many of those working in forensic psychology develop specialties, such as working exclusively on issues of parental custody and visitation, or sex offender consulting and treatment. Or they consult in the area of domestic violence, or school violence, using the most up-to-date empirical research to support their conclusions and recommendations.
Sane or Insane?
Mistakenly most people believe that the plea of a defendant’s sanity is made at trial. In most situations, however, the court hires forensic psychology professionals to determine a defendant’s state of mind before going to trial.
Forensic psychologists use a number of psychological assessments to evaluate the sanity of a defendant. However before testing begins, a subjective opinion on the defendant’s mental state is made leading either the attorney or the court to proceed with this type of testing.
So what is considered abnormal behavior to the extent that sanity is questioned? Psychologists use a trait called behavioral maladaptiveness to signal an abnormal mental state. This means that individuals’ behaviors are destructive either personally or to others, such as a social group, family, friends or coworkers. Causing injury to one’s self or to those close to one's self is universally accepted as indicating an abnormal mental or behavioral state.
Other ways to apply expertise
In addition to providing assessment, evaluation, and consulting services to attorneys, judges, and other professionals, those working in forensic psychology also work with clients and victims. They also work as trainers for public servants and others who work directly with offenders and victims.
When working in prisons or correctional facilities, for instance, forensic psychologists might work one-on-one with inmates or hold group therapy sessions. They also might hold special sessions on mental health topics, such as anger management, crisis management, self-esteem building, and goal setting.
Those who work in correctional facilities might also consult and train prison staff members, attorneys, and community advocates. They also design programs for recently released juveniles or adults.
In some cases, those working in forensic psychology provide training programs for law enforcement personnel on how to handle both perpetrators and victims.
Expert witnesses
Many who are trained in forensic psychology also become expert witnesses, or professionals hired by attorneys to give testimony at a trial. They must explain to the court the findings from empirically based studies on a wide range of psychological topics. This requires keeping up-to-date with recent research, and an ability to articulate scientific findings in a clear, understandable manner.
For example, Nicholas DiFonzo, PhD, professor of psychology at Rochester Institute of Technology, is an expert in rumor psychology. He has written books and journal articles on this topic, and is hired by attorneys as an expert witness. He instructs attorneys, judges and juries on the psychology of rumors, on how they spread, why they are believed, their effects, and how to manage them.
Psychology professionals who become expert witnesses usually begin their careers working with mentors or supervisors in a variety of settings, including clinics, prisons, government agencies, and schools.
What does it take to enter this field?
Steven N. Shapse, a forensic psychologist from Lincoln, Mass., says that working in forensic psychology requires the ability to integrate knowledge from almost every field of psychology. It also involves keeping up with volumes of psychological research to stay current with new findings.
Forensic psychology differs significantly from other areas of psychology, according to Shapse, a psychologist with over 20 years as a forensic expert, psychometrist and child custody evaluator. Similar to investigators trying to piece together a puzzle, those in forensic psychology gather a complete psychological history of a client by questioning family members, relatives, and other therapists - which is what Shapse really enjoys about the field.
"It's more fact-based; it's more concrete because you do psychological testing," he says. "It's also more of a challenge because the client sitting before you can actually distract you from finding out what's really going on.”
Shapse explains that, unlike those working in the Clinical Psychology field who usually don't question the client's veracity, those in forensic psychology must dig to get viewpoints from many people and other professionals. "When you get 360 degree feedback, the picture changes, it becomes more whole."
And while doing this type of psychological investigative work, Shapse says, forensic psychology professionals must keep their own opinions and biases out of the analysis.
One of the requirements for those interested in a forensic psychology career is to be a "life-long learner," Shapse says. He also says that those interested in the testing and assessing processes (see Psychometrics) will enjoy a career in forensic psychology.
If you are intrigued with the criminal mind, and you enjoy learning about the intersection of law and psychology, you should consider a career in forensic psychology. Usually a master's degree or PhD is required to work in this field.
Some institutions offer a forensic psychology degree. However, students majoring in clinical, social, cognitive, criminal investigative, and developmental psychology also can pursue a forensic psychology specialty.
Find out how you can become involved, request information from schools offering Psychology degree programs. Also, learn more about the psychology career licensing processes and what the requirements for licensure are: Psychology Career Licensure.
Sex Offenders and Forensic Psychology
Many who work in the field of Forensic Psychology specialize in one area, and without a doubt, sex offender assessment has become an area that has experienced significant career growth.
In addition, many career paths have opened up for those wanting to work in sex offender treatment programs offered in prisons, nonprofit organizations, and other social service and private agencies.
Those specializing in sex offender assessment and treatment must know the current empirical research, and learn everything they can about the thoughts and behaviors of sex offenders and victims. They must know both the most effective assessments and the most effective interventions.
Their first hurdle is to dispel the myths held by the public about sex offenders. Many believe that most sexual assaults are committed by strangers; however the data show that most victims are assaulted by those they know – family members, friends, and other adults or adolescents.
Other myths surround the characteristics of sex offenders. Many believe that sex offenders all have a common set of personality traits or profiles that identify them as sex offenders.
However, the experts warn that there is not a checklist of traits clearly identifying those most likely to commit this type of offense. Sex offenders are diverse, coming from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, ages, male or female, young, old, and middle age.
Forensic professionals usually start an evaluation with an objective test such as the Multiphasic Sex Inventory II (MSI II). The MSI II has versions for female and male offenders as well as adolescent offenders. It is a sexual inventory test, measuring the sexual characteristics of those who have committed a sex offense or sexual misconduct. It can also be used to do a sex deviance evaluation. It can be useful in evaluating a client who has been alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct but who denies any such behavior.
Additionally, specialists in sex crimes will also use some form of evaluation that measures subjective feelings and attitudes that clients might be experiencing. This allows clients to verbalize feelings about behaviors, and also about life experiences and conditions.
Test and evaluations are also used for those in treatment programs to gauge progress, as well as those seeking the help of psychologists for sex-related problems and issues.