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Subfield of Forensic Psychology
Forensic psychology is a branch of legal psychology, the study, analysis, and interpretation of psychological aspects directly related to legal proceedings. The subject of these studies is, first of all, a person. Consequently, forensic psychology acts as one of the tools for assessing the identification, development, and change of personal properties of the subject, leading to specific behavior and action. The essay defines the origins of forensic psychology, analyzes its role in various fields and spheres, and identifies its essential feature in the modern world.
Freud and Goddard were the psychologists who first identified the prerequisites for creating forensic psychology as a scientific field. They assumed that the causes of crime lie in extraordinary thinking, mental deviations, and shortcomings. The researchers ‘ scientific works influenced the practice of judicial proceedings in Europe and America in the future as the basis for experimental observations (Woody et al., 2016). Inspired by the works of his predecessor colleagues, in the early 30s of the last century, Burtt published a text on legal psychology, and Toch’s collection on the psychology of crime appeared later thirty years later (Woody et al., 2016).
In addition, the ideas of forensic psychology continued to be developed by such scientists as Havard, Tapp, Monahan, and Loftus, among others. The research of the psychologists is the basis of the materials of law, legal processes and the system (Woody et al., 2016). Scientific articles, reports and textbooks of these specialists have made a significant contribution to the formation and development of forensic psychology.
Forensic psychology is closely related to other areas, for instance, with correctional psychology; their main relationship is historical roots, serving common goals, and recognizing certain values. These subfields are applicable in advisory, clinical, developmental, social, cognitive and social practice. Both directions continue to play their role in forensic medicine and psychology of correctional institutions to solve practical, legal, and judicial issues (Neal, 2018). In psychology, forensic psychology helps not only to solve problems arising in criminal and civil proceedings but also to influence people to ensure the optimal establishment of the truth using several general psychological methods and techniques.
For scientific purposes, forensic psychology is used to develop reasonable recommendations for its improvement and relief. The widespread use of forensic psychological examination will lead to a deeper study of a person’s mental properties and qualities, the reasons for their appearance, and the determination of ways to change them. Forensic psychological knowledge should be implemented in investigators’ and judges’ practical activities and actively help them achieve justice goals. For example, in correlation subfield, judicial practice is used as work with prisoners in correctional institutions (Woody, 2016). Psychologists test intelligence, evaluate behavior, investigate traumatic brain injuries and prescribe therapy according to the results.
Psychological Research
The scientific method is essential in psychology to finding new knowledge, discover new truths based on accepted rules, evidence, intuition, imagination, and creativity. Scientific knowledge is characterized by particular reliability, persuasiveness, and consistency. It has the principles of criticality and openness, in which observation is used to build testable theories describing previous observations and predicting future observations (Haig, 2019). The scientific method facilitates proper and reliable research through approaches, techniques, operations of practical or theoretical mastering of reality. With the help of a specific group of methods, reliable information is obtained to build scientific theories and develop practical recommendations.
The study’s psychological question – how did forensic psychology appear, where it originated, and who worked on its creation? What is its theoretical and practical application? What is its role in modern psychology, how is it related to other fields? In studying these issues, research methods, collection, and analysis of information were carried out: special literature and scientific journals and studies were used as evidence of words.
In research question studies, psychologists usually use three methods: hypothetico-deductive method, inductive method, and inference to the best explanation. Based on the first method, it is possible to obtain knowledge based on the deductive conclusion of the consequences from the hypothesis system and their empirical verification. By means of the second method, a generalizing statement is derived from the comparison of available facts. The inference to the best explanation is an attempt to clarify the main features of a reliable scientific method. At the same time, it is also a kind of plan to clarify the problem of induction (Haig, 2019). Each of them has its own essential and paramount importance.
I learned a lot of important, valuable, and necessary information from my research and got a valuable experience. In addition, I already know how to use the resources to find the necessary information, select and analyze it, apply scientific methods in practice – induction, deduction, or “best choice.” This research has developed specific abilities, skills, and competencies that will help me in the future when writing papers. To determine the reliability of knowledge, I used the following criteria: reputation, competence, professionalism, relevance, and reliability, supported by various official sources of information (Haig, 2019).
To determine the applicability of sources, I used such criteria as a novelty, selectivity, accuracy, and reliability of the data, a suitable topic, professional vocabulary, and words of the text, supported by scientific research and literature (Haig, 2019).
The basis of any research is a competent, high-quality approach to the study and consideration of the topic, the analysis of issues, the collection and interpretation of information. Forensic psychology is that part of the industry that develops in one direction and interacts both in the generalized sense of all psychology and with other narrower areas. In addition, the scientific research methods are applied in work, their features and significance for the text are studied.
References
Haig, B. D. (2019). The importance of scientific method for psychological science. Psychology, Crime & Law, 25(6), 527-541. Web.
Neal, T. M. S. (2018). Forensic psychology and correctional psychology: Distinct but related subfields of psychological science and practice. American Psychologist, 73(5), 651–662. Web.
Woody, W. D., Miller, R. L., & Wozniak, W. J (2016). Forensic psychology. In W. D. Woody, R. L. Miller & W. J. Wozniak (Eds.), Psychological specialties in historical context: Enriching the classroom experience for teachers and students (pp. 430-445). Society for the Teaching of Psychology.
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