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Forensic Psychology: What is it?

     To most psychologists, forensics psychology is a branch of applied psychology that deals with the collection, examination and presentation of evidence for judicial purposes (Haward 1). Because both deal with human behavior, psychology has been entwined with law since the beginning of recorded history.

     The cuneiform tablets of Asia Minor, the papyri of ancient Egypt and the Greek and Latin scripts of early European civilizations, contain evidence of an interest in law by emerging psychologists, then called philosophers. Take for example, the Decalogue which Moses is said to have brought down from the mountains. This fundamental rule of conduct contained rules about theft and murder, which are still attained in modern law during our time. To move on to later studies of the ancient world, Plato's Republic, is essentially an investigation for the meaning of justice. A continuing search was made to understand the psychological basis of legal concepts. People have always been curious as to how and why the mind works as it does. Thus, psychology has contributed to the development of law ( Haward, 7). 
Wilhelm Wundt found the world's first psychological laboratory in Leipzig, Germany in the early 1900s. Wundt complied the work of fellow psychological pioneers along with the statistical methods of Sir Francis Galton and created experimental psychology in his laboratory with both theory-oriented and applied goals. Students of Wundt then spread through Europe teaching the applications of psychology, not only in law, but also in everyday life. Students came from all over the world to study under Wundt. 
Schrenck-Notzing, as student at Leipzig, is for the most part considered the first forensic psychologist. In 1986 he presented the details of laboratory experiments into suggestibility and errors of recall into a Munich court. His system was coherent and admissible in a case of murder. His expert testimony sparked the interest of other psychologists. The next prominent Wundt student was Hugo Munsterberg (1863-1916). He actually made an attempt to bring forensic psychology into the courts in the United States, but found its admissibility more detaining than in Europe. In response to this, he wrote an account of what forensic psychology could offer to justice. Regardless of his obstacle, Munsterberg persisted in his studies in the subject of forensic psychology. He introduced hypnosis into the courtroom and conducted experimental work directed and contemporary problems of evidence. One example of his experiments in which one was concerned with the ability to tell between sounds taking place in close intervals. It is amazing how his observations were called upon during the preparation of evidence for President's John F. Kennedy's assassination.

     After Munsterberg came yet another student of Wundt, Judd. Judd created a psychological laboratory at Yale and developed some important forensic psychology contributions. In 1911 Professor Karl Marbe became the first psychological expert to testify at a civil trail. He was again, another one of Wundt's students. The first time an American psychologist qualified as an expert witness was in 1921. After that it was not until the late 1940's that psychologists began to testify regularly in American courts. In the USA, psychologists were not allowed as expert witnesses on mental disorder until 1962 and not until 1980 on the matter of competency (Haward, 11). 
Since the 1960's, the demand for forensic psychologists has gradually increased. Psychologists usually found their evidence from a combination of client interview, psychometric testing (psychological testing whose purpose is to obtain information about an individual in a standardized and valid method), document studying and previous reports (34). On the subject of psychometric testing, it does not need be reiterated that all testing must be like all psychological tests. That is, be subject to random sampling; independent and dependent variables; validity; relevance; and so on. Psychological testing allows psychologists to assess particulars like cognitive functioning, neuropsychological status, personality, areas of clinical concern, anger and sexual problems, and various legal competencies (Haward, 100).
Psychological testing, however, should be separate from other forms of analyzation, such as psycholinguistics. Psycholinguistics is that branch of psychology, which deals with verbal communication. One example of an analysis using this branch would be suicide note analysis. In many instances, a person who kills himself leaves a note behind to someone who was close to him or her. Notes of these kinds can reveal motivations and other characteristics of the victim. They can often distinguish between attempted suicide or para-suicide (a feigned attempt) (Cohn, 112). 
Just to bring to light some of the scenarios and ailments which forensic psychologists encounter, several will not be discussed. The first covered will be the affliction of amnesia. In some criminal cases the defendants claim partial or total amnesia. In this case, the job of the psychologist it to determine the probability and why the suspect may be suffering from amnesia.

     The next symptom is that of recovered memories, which has seen much public interest in the curiosity of repressed childhood memories of sexual abuse. These memories are said to be recovered in adulthood after the person has received therapy. Criminals may, however, try to use this excuse as a scapegoat and once again, forensic psychologists help determine the if the person is really experiencing this phenomenon. The last issue this feature article will discuss is the issue of false confessions. Within recent years, a great contribution has been made by forensic psychologists to figure out the psychological vulnerabilities and circumstances which yield a confession possibly invalid (Vetter, 65).

     In conclusion, it is important to add the fact that as in all scientific measures, ethical issues. There are ethical codes and types of ethical dilemmas that are particularly relevant to forensic science. There is also the chance that it is possible for the forensic psychologist to act immorally himself. This debases the integrity of forensic psychologists, when it happens. Forensic psychologists must steer clear of such things as negligence, defamation and emotional conflicts.  

Cohn, Alfred. The Criminal Justice System and it's Psychology. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. New York, 1985.

Haward, L.R.C., Forensic Psychology. Routledge. New York, 1998.

Vetter, Harold. The Psychological Foundations of Criminal Justice, Volume II. The John Jay Press. New York, 1980.