Psychology 2032A/B Chapter 1: An Introduction to Forensic Psychology

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2032A/B
• Professor: Peter Hoaken

Document Summary

Forensic psychology: a field of psychology that deals with all aspects of human behaviour as it relates to law or legal system. Started in both usa and europe that had serious implications for the legal system. James cattell (columbia: conducted experiments while looking at what would later be called psychology of eyewitness testimony. In a 1911 case, varendock concluded children were prone to suggestion (based on how he questioned the children in this case) 1917: established psychological testing for law enforcement selection purposes. Mid-1900"s, new theories of crime were being proposed. State v. driver = first case in usa that used expert witnesses (1921) 1. 1 gives dates outlining important contributions: some of the significant advances emerged from research on eyewitness testimony and jury decision making, most significant contribution = area of corrections, dr. stephen wormith (box 1. 2) Slower than the usa to open the doors to this field.