Forensic Psychology

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

The curricular unit has theoretical lectures, case analysis, sharing of experience by professionals (including psychologists, magistrates and lawyers) that are experienced in the cooperation between psychology and law and in research, and the active participation of students.

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes

- introduce students into the study of forensic psychology;

- present the main fields of work and activities of the forensic psychologist;

- raise students' awareness of the main fields of research in forensic psychology.

 

At the end of the each curricular unit, students should be able to:

- explain the origin and evolutions of forensic psychology and distinguish it from other fields of psychologists activity;

- identify the structure of the legal system and understand the relationship between psychology and law;

- recognise the specificity of forensic psychology assessment and the relevance of psychological reports drawn up for the judicial context;

- describe some intervention practices of the forensic psychologist;

- examine and discuss deontological and ethical questions that the psychologist, who works with the justice system, faces;

- list the results of some of the latest forensics research.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1 Object and application scope of forensic psychology

2 Origins and historical evolution of forensic psychology

3 Structure of the legal system and relationship between law and psychology

4 Specificities of forensic psychology assessment

5 Practice(s) of the forensic psychologist in the fields of criminal law, labour law, civil law, family and children law (e.g. juvenile delinquency, damage assessment, parental responsibilities, violence).

6 The role of the psychologist as a forensic witness

7 Deontological and ethical issues in forensic psychologist practice

8 Trends in forensic psychology research.

Head Lecturer(s)

Madalena Moutinho Alarcão Silva

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Report of a seminar or field trip: 40.0%
Mini Tests: 60.0%

Bibliography

APA (2015). APA Handbook of psychology and juvenile justice. Washington:APA.

Hess, A. & Weiner, I.(2006). Handbook of forensic psychology. New York: John Wiley & Son.

Huss, M. T. (2014). Forensic psychology: Research, clinical practice, and applications (2nd ed.). Malden: Wiley.

Grigorenko,E.(2012).Juvenile forensic psychology and psychiatry.London:Springer

Roesch, R., & Cook, A.(2017).Handbook of forensic mental health services.NY: Routledge.

Towl, G., Crighton, D. (2010). Forensic psychology. Chischester: BPS Blackwell.

Walker, L. E., & Shapiro, D. (2010) Introduction to forensic psychology: Clinical and social psychological perspectives. New York: Plenun Pub.