Psyc 380 Questions with complete
solution 2025/2026
forensic psychology - correct answer ✔A field of psychology that deals with all aspects of human
behavior as it relates to the law or legal systems. a debate centers on whether the definition should be
broad or narrow. a narrow def. might focus on clinical aspects and ignore conducted experimental
research. In 2001 the American Psychological Organization reorganized forensic psychology narrowly as
a specialization. Otto and Heilburn state, "it should include the primarily clinical aspects of forensic
assessment, treatment and consultation.
the only individuals that should call themselves forensic psychologists are those involved in - correct
answer ✔clinical practice (assessing, treating, or consulting). within the legal system. Things that are
NOT considered to be forensic psychology include: studying memory of eyewitness, examining the
decision making of jurors, or evaluating the effectiveness of offender treatment programs.
Bartols' broad definition of forensic psychology is- - correct answer ✔a) the research endeavor that
examines aspects of human behavior directly related to the legal process and b) the professional
practice of psychology within, or in consultation with a legal system that embraces both civil and
criminal law. Narrow definition focuses on application and broad definition also takes into account
research.
clinical forensic psychologists - correct answer ✔psychologists who are broadly concerned with the
assessment and treatment of mental health issues as they pertain to the law or legal system. This
includes research and practice in things such as schools, prisons, and hospitals. Often concerned with
the assessment and treatment of persons with mental disorders within the context of the law.
Some issues clinical forensic psychologists are interested in are: - correct answer ✔- validation of a tool
that predict violent behaviors
-divorce and child custody mediation
- determination of criminal responsibility (insanity) and fitness to stand trial
- providing expert testimony on questions of a psychological nature
-personnel selection (eg. for law enforcement agencies)
,- conduct critical incident stress debriefing w/ police officers
-designing and conducting treatment programs for offenders
forensic psychiatry - correct answer ✔A field of medicine that deals w/ all aspects of human behavior
as it relates to the law or legal system. Both forensic psychiatrists and psychologists deal w/ ppl with
mental problems in law settings and conduct similar types of research. Psychiatrists can prescribe
medicine psychologists cannot.
forensic anthropologists - correct answer ✔forensic anthropologists examine the remains of deceased
victims to determine key facts (age, gender etc.)
forensic linguistics - correct answer ✔examine written and spoken word in an attempt to assist criminal
investigators. They can determine if suicide notes are fake or not.
forensic chemistry - correct answer ✔study the chemical aspects of a crime scene (which can include
an analysis of paint particles, dyes, fibers.
forensic ondontology - correct answer ✔study the dental aspects of criminal activity.
forensic pathology - correct answer ✔examine remains of dead bodies in attempt to determine the
time and cause of death through physical autopsy.
forensic entomology - correct answer ✔forensic entomologists are concerned with insects and their
assistance in criminal investigations.
experimental forensic psychologists - correct answer ✔psychologists who are broadly concerned with
the study of human behavior as it relates to the law or legal system. some things they are interested in
are:
-examining effectiveness of risk-assessment strategies, -determining what factors influence jury decision
making, - developing better ways to conduct eyewitness lineups, - evaluating offender and victim
,treatment programs, -studying the impact of questioning style on eyewitness memory recall, examining
the effect of stress management interventions on police officers.
Psychology and the law - correct answer ✔The use of psychology to examine the operation of the legal
system. psychology is viewed as a separate discipline to the law. examining and analyzing various parts
of law from a psychological perspective.
E.g., "Are eyewitnesses accurate?" "Do certain interrogation techniques cause people to falsely
confess?" "Are judges fair?" "Is it possible to predict whether an offender will be violent when
released?"
Psychology in the law - correct answer ✔the use of psychology in the legal system as that system
operates. use of psychological knowledge.
E.g., expert testimony, different questioning strategies during interrogation
Psychology of the law - correct answer ✔the use of psychology to examine the law itself.
E.g. what role should the police play in domestic disputes? does law reduce the amount of crime in our
society? Why is it important to allow for discretionary decision making in the canadian justice system?
Conflict Between Psychology and the Law - correct answer ✔Legal professionals are trained to view
human behaviour in a way that is different from a psychologist.
Laws and Values
Laws are human creations that evolve out of the need to resolve disagreements.
Values:
Values are standards for decision making.
Societies values can change
Legal system
The law deals with morality, social values, social control and justifying the application of abstract
principles to specific cases.
Social Science
, Deals with knowledge, truth, and derives abstract principles form specific instances.
The scientific method values reproducible phenomena and underlying causes.
Social Science:
A conclusion about human behaviour is not accepted until it is:
Reliable
Replicable
Legal System:
Courts tend "to approve legal rules based on intuitive assumptions about human behaviour that
research by psychologists has shown to be erroneous"
- Professor of Law: J.A. Tanford (1990)
The CSI Effect - correct answer ✔A term used to describe a host of phenomena related to how crime
shows are influencing the legal process.
Reoccurring themes:
The quality of scientific evidence is far superior to non-scientific evidence
Viewers leave with the notion "science will lead us to the truthThe CSI Effect is typically described in 4
different ways:
1) Jurors are more likely to acquit defendants if they are fans of CSI
2) Legal professionals have changed their behavior in order to deal with these perceived changes in
juror behaviour,
3) Television crime dramas have peaked student interest in topics related to forensic science, and
4) Criminals are learning ways to avoid capture by watching these shows.
Legal System: Intuitive assumptions:
A 2005 survey of 102 Arizona prosecutors found that:
38%: They had lost a case because of the CSI effect;
45%: Jurors relied on scientific evidence more than they should; and
72%: CSI fans exerted undue influence on other jurors.
solution 2025/2026
forensic psychology - correct answer ✔A field of psychology that deals with all aspects of human
behavior as it relates to the law or legal systems. a debate centers on whether the definition should be
broad or narrow. a narrow def. might focus on clinical aspects and ignore conducted experimental
research. In 2001 the American Psychological Organization reorganized forensic psychology narrowly as
a specialization. Otto and Heilburn state, "it should include the primarily clinical aspects of forensic
assessment, treatment and consultation.
the only individuals that should call themselves forensic psychologists are those involved in - correct
answer ✔clinical practice (assessing, treating, or consulting). within the legal system. Things that are
NOT considered to be forensic psychology include: studying memory of eyewitness, examining the
decision making of jurors, or evaluating the effectiveness of offender treatment programs.
Bartols' broad definition of forensic psychology is- - correct answer ✔a) the research endeavor that
examines aspects of human behavior directly related to the legal process and b) the professional
practice of psychology within, or in consultation with a legal system that embraces both civil and
criminal law. Narrow definition focuses on application and broad definition also takes into account
research.
clinical forensic psychologists - correct answer ✔psychologists who are broadly concerned with the
assessment and treatment of mental health issues as they pertain to the law or legal system. This
includes research and practice in things such as schools, prisons, and hospitals. Often concerned with
the assessment and treatment of persons with mental disorders within the context of the law.
Some issues clinical forensic psychologists are interested in are: - correct answer ✔- validation of a tool
that predict violent behaviors
-divorce and child custody mediation
- determination of criminal responsibility (insanity) and fitness to stand trial
- providing expert testimony on questions of a psychological nature
-personnel selection (eg. for law enforcement agencies)
,- conduct critical incident stress debriefing w/ police officers
-designing and conducting treatment programs for offenders
forensic psychiatry - correct answer ✔A field of medicine that deals w/ all aspects of human behavior
as it relates to the law or legal system. Both forensic psychiatrists and psychologists deal w/ ppl with
mental problems in law settings and conduct similar types of research. Psychiatrists can prescribe
medicine psychologists cannot.
forensic anthropologists - correct answer ✔forensic anthropologists examine the remains of deceased
victims to determine key facts (age, gender etc.)
forensic linguistics - correct answer ✔examine written and spoken word in an attempt to assist criminal
investigators. They can determine if suicide notes are fake or not.
forensic chemistry - correct answer ✔study the chemical aspects of a crime scene (which can include
an analysis of paint particles, dyes, fibers.
forensic ondontology - correct answer ✔study the dental aspects of criminal activity.
forensic pathology - correct answer ✔examine remains of dead bodies in attempt to determine the
time and cause of death through physical autopsy.
forensic entomology - correct answer ✔forensic entomologists are concerned with insects and their
assistance in criminal investigations.
experimental forensic psychologists - correct answer ✔psychologists who are broadly concerned with
the study of human behavior as it relates to the law or legal system. some things they are interested in
are:
-examining effectiveness of risk-assessment strategies, -determining what factors influence jury decision
making, - developing better ways to conduct eyewitness lineups, - evaluating offender and victim
,treatment programs, -studying the impact of questioning style on eyewitness memory recall, examining
the effect of stress management interventions on police officers.
Psychology and the law - correct answer ✔The use of psychology to examine the operation of the legal
system. psychology is viewed as a separate discipline to the law. examining and analyzing various parts
of law from a psychological perspective.
E.g., "Are eyewitnesses accurate?" "Do certain interrogation techniques cause people to falsely
confess?" "Are judges fair?" "Is it possible to predict whether an offender will be violent when
released?"
Psychology in the law - correct answer ✔the use of psychology in the legal system as that system
operates. use of psychological knowledge.
E.g., expert testimony, different questioning strategies during interrogation
Psychology of the law - correct answer ✔the use of psychology to examine the law itself.
E.g. what role should the police play in domestic disputes? does law reduce the amount of crime in our
society? Why is it important to allow for discretionary decision making in the canadian justice system?
Conflict Between Psychology and the Law - correct answer ✔Legal professionals are trained to view
human behaviour in a way that is different from a psychologist.
Laws and Values
Laws are human creations that evolve out of the need to resolve disagreements.
Values:
Values are standards for decision making.
Societies values can change
Legal system
The law deals with morality, social values, social control and justifying the application of abstract
principles to specific cases.
Social Science
, Deals with knowledge, truth, and derives abstract principles form specific instances.
The scientific method values reproducible phenomena and underlying causes.
Social Science:
A conclusion about human behaviour is not accepted until it is:
Reliable
Replicable
Legal System:
Courts tend "to approve legal rules based on intuitive assumptions about human behaviour that
research by psychologists has shown to be erroneous"
- Professor of Law: J.A. Tanford (1990)
The CSI Effect - correct answer ✔A term used to describe a host of phenomena related to how crime
shows are influencing the legal process.
Reoccurring themes:
The quality of scientific evidence is far superior to non-scientific evidence
Viewers leave with the notion "science will lead us to the truthThe CSI Effect is typically described in 4
different ways:
1) Jurors are more likely to acquit defendants if they are fans of CSI
2) Legal professionals have changed their behavior in order to deal with these perceived changes in
juror behaviour,
3) Television crime dramas have peaked student interest in topics related to forensic science, and
4) Criminals are learning ways to avoid capture by watching these shows.
Legal System: Intuitive assumptions:
A 2005 survey of 102 Arizona prosecutors found that:
38%: They had lost a case because of the CSI effect;
45%: Jurors relied on scientific evidence more than they should; and
72%: CSI fans exerted undue influence on other jurors.
