Psychology 2032A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Psych, Nomothetic, Broad Group

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

Document Summary

Forensic psychology: deals with all aspects of human behaviour as it related to the law or legal system. Interested in understanding how people function within a very particular context a legal context. Relatively short history staring in the late 19th century. James cattell first conducted experiments looking at what would later be called the psychology of eyewitness testimony. Alfred binet presented numerous studies in which he showed that the testimony provided by children was highly susceptible to suggestive questioning techniques. At this time, psychologist began appearing as experts in court: effects of pre-trial publicity on memory (retroactive memory falsification) Confusing actual memories of events with events described by media. Forensic psych was prominent in europe much before it was in n. america. Hugo munsterberg known by many as the father of forensic psych. Court excepted expert evidence from forensic psychology that the young girl was a. Moron and could not be believed, however the testimony was rejected.