Application: Subspecialties in Forensic Psychology
As you learned from last week's readings, forensic psychology can apply to many areas of the legal system. Narrowly defined forensic psychology professionals conduct evaluations of defendants and appear in court to testify based on their findings. However, in reality, the activities of forensic psychology professionals, because of their knowledge of human behavior, might include working in prisons as mental health professionals; working with law enforcement agencies screening applicants; engaging in criminal profiling; or assisting in hostage negotiations, crisis intervention, or in the selection of a suitable jury.
As you have seen in the Learning Resources this week, there are forensic psychology subspecialties that include criminal forensic psychology, juvenile forensic psychology, civil forensic psychology, investigative psychology, correctional psychology, police psychology, and military psychology. Additionally, there are a variety of roles and responsibilities within each subspecialty. Studying and understanding the various roles and responsibilities of a forensic psychology professional within specific subspecialties, will help you to understand the field and identify a subspecialty of forensic psychology you may find most interesting.
To prepare for this assignment:
• Review Chapter 1 of the course text, Introduction to Forensic Psychology. Pay particular attention to the subspecialties and roles that fall under the umbrella of forensic psychology.
• Review this week's DVD program, "Practice Areas, Roles, and Responsibilities." Consider all of the roles, responsibilities, and opportunities pertaining to forensic psychology professional.
• Review the article "An Interesting Career in Psychology: Forensic Psychologist" (Pinizzotto) on the APA Online: Law and Psychology Web site and consider the roles of a forensic psychology professional within this specific subspecialty.
• Think about the subspecialties of forensic psychology and the various roles within them.
• Choose two roles that are of interest to you in one or more of the subspecialties.
• Consider how each of the roles you selected contributes to a subspecialty and why.
The assignment (1-2 pages):
• Describe the two roles you selected.
• Describe the two subspecialties to which the roles belong and contribute.
• Explain how each role contributes to the subspecialty you selected and why.
• Explain how roles of forensic psychology professionals in general contribute to forensic psychology subspecialties.
Support your Application Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list only for those resources not included in the Learning Resources for this course.