Forensic Psychology, Research Paper Example

Forensic Psychology is the use of psychology in the criminal justice structure; this field of psychology requires one to showcase his/her capability of interpreting the law in the pertinent jurisdiction. Forensic psychologists should be able to testify in court by using relevant legal terms that can be understood by the attorneys, legal professions and judges. Forensic psychology calls for a clear understanding of principles and rules that govern the judicial system of the government in question. Forensic psychology is extraordinarily different from forensic science; many people tend to confuse the two (Curt, 2008). Whereas forensic psychologists delve into the details of psychological application into the criminal system; forensic scientists involve themselves into legal issues such as competency, new laws and social policies. Through the intermarriage of law and psychology, forensic psychology was born.

Forensic psychology is a broad field in the criminal justice system; some people who commit crimes never anticipate doing so. As a forensic psychologist, you should critically examine the intents of a criminal before presenting your findings to the relevant attorney. Many people who are examined by forensic psychologists exhibit characters that are wanting. Many at times these criminals are mentally ill and therefore, need assistance. It is the work of a forensic psychologist to determine such kinds of problems and report to the relevant authority.

The history of this field of study can be traced back in the turn of the 20th century. William Stern is believed to be the brains behind forensic psychology, during his lessons, Stern frequently asked his students to examine some pictures carefully and then try to recall what was happening in those pictures. After the examination, stern would then take his time and interpret the observation of his students at intervals. These experiments were done by Stern to determine the credibility of ones observation under the assumption that a student is giving a deposition in court. From his experiments, Stern concluded that recall memories are not valid because most of the time they are always flawed. Moreover, Stern observed that his students always recalled falsified information; for instance when a student was asked if he/she saw a character in the picture holding a gun, he would say yes even if no man in the said picture had a gun.

Forensic psychology in a nutshell that deals with both civil and criminal law. However, before we go deep into what the job entails, let us first look into the education requirements for one qualify and be a forensic psychologist. It all starts with the acquisition of an undergraduate degree in psychology from only an accredited university or college. A double major in criminology and psychology at the undergraduate degree is normally recommendable since they normally prepare an individual for the tasks ahead. Once an individual has completed an undergraduate degree, he/she should enroll for a master’s degree in clinical psychology.  One can also choose to pursue masters in criminology depending on whether he/she has all the perquisites required for the course.  The whole education program of attaining a doctorate in psychology can go up to 7 years. It is a very long journey with plenty of professional training that demands a lot of concentration.

Upon successful completion of a doctorate it is recommended that additional courses in psychology be pursued and this should be supplemented with attending seminars in forensic psychology. Consultations with professionals already practicing is highly encouraged since it mentally prepares an individual of what is expected of him/her once in the field. Experience is particularly vital necessity here; anyone with aspirations of becoming a forensic psychologist should as a matter of fact work closely with chartered forensic psychologists for a minimum of two years so as to be qualified for certification. The last step is to pass the state certification exams so as to be certified; exams and eligibility requirements differ from state to state. A certification from the board of forensic psychology should then be sought for those who wish to but this is subject to meeting all their requirements and passing examinations (American Board of Forensic Psychology).

Solomon (2008) asserts that the amount of money a forensic psychology takes home depends on many factors; first off, a forensic scientist will earn according to the level of his/her education. Recent statistics prove that those forensic scientists who are in possession of a Ph.D. in this field take home wages that range from $40,000 to $55,000 annually. Another feature that determines how much a forensic psychology takes home is his/her field of specialization. Those who do private practice in consultation services tend to take home the biggest share.

Many people go into this field for different reasons, however, many venture into this field because it is a calling. Many forensic psychologists venture into this field because they love challenges. Others venture into forensic psychology because of its divers nature, when one decides to follow this path he/she should clearly understand much effort has to be applied on studies. The main reason as to why people venture into this field is because of its rewarding nature, I am sure every forensic psychologist can not fail to pay his/her bills.

References

American Board of Forensic Psychology. Forensic Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.abfp.com/ on 3^rd March 3, 2010.

Curt R. (2008). Current Perspectives in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Behavior. London: Sage publishers

Solomon M. (2008). Forensic Psychology. Wadsworth publishing, 3rd edition