Forensic Psychology & Legal Issues

Forensic psychology applies psychology to the law — eyewitness memory, criminal behaviour, competency and risk assessment, and the functioning of the legal system.

Scope

It covers eyewitness testimony and memory, psychological assessment in legal contexts, jury and courtroom processes, and the psychology of criminal behaviour.

Sub-topics

• Civil Rights & Civil Law
• Criminal Law & Criminal Adjudication
• Mediation & Conflict Resolution
• Crime Prevention

Core questions

• How reliable is eyewitness memory?
• How do legal decisions and juries work psychologically?
• How are competency and risk assessed?
• What psychological factors shape criminal behaviour?

Key concepts

• Eyewitness memory
• Misinformation effect
• Competency and risk assessment
• Jury decision-making
• False memory

Key theories

The malleability of eyewitness memory

Loftus showed memory is reconstructive and susceptible to misleading post-event information, with major legal implications.

History

Forensic psychology grew as psychology engaged the legal system, with Loftus's eyewitness-memory research transforming understanding of testimony and contributing to reforms in criminal justice.

Debates

How much can eyewitness testimony be trusted?

Loftus's work shows eyewitness memory is more fallible and malleable than courts long assumed.

Key figures

• Elizabeth Loftus

Seminal works

• loftus-palmer-1974
• loftus-1979

Frequently asked questions

What is the misinformation effect?

The distortion of memory by misleading information encountered after an event, demonstrated in Loftus's eyewitness research.