Forensic Psychology Key
Concepts, Theories &
Assessments 2026 | Study
Guide & Review
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Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
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Rationales
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,Forensic Psychology Psychology applied to legal, criminal, and justice-related settings.
Five Domains of Forensic Psychology Developmental, criminal investigative, cognitive, social, and clinical areas of
forensic psychology.
Diagnostic Assessment Assessment involving interview and criminal history review.
Risk Assessment Assessment of potential outcomes and protective factors.
Formulation Explanation of motivation, reinforcement, and interaction involved in behaviour.
Intervention Skills-based work used in forensic psychology.
Static Risk Historical and stable risk factors.
Dynamic Risk Risk factors that are susceptible to change.
Protective Factors Internal, motivational, and external factors that reduce risk.
Interaction Theories Theories explaining behaviour through the interaction of factors.
At-Risk Tree A model using roots, soil, trunk, branches, and fruit to explain risk and outcomes.
Roots Assimilated experience from family, school, and peer group.
Soil Environmental resources such as socioeconomic, political, economic, and cultural
conditions.
Trunk Support through behaviours, attitudes, and skills.
Branches Adaptation shown in outcomes like school dropout, substance use, risky sexual
behaviour, delinquency, violence, and suicide.
, Fruit Contributions or outcomes.
Frustration-Aggression Aggression caused by interference with obtaining a goal.
Relational Aggression Aggression that harms social relationships and status.
Instrumental Aggression Cold, calculating aggression used as a means to an end.
Hostile Aggression Hot, emotional, purposeful harm.
Reactive Aggression Aggression in response to social threat.
Psychological Aggression Aggression linked to segregation, stereotypes, reputation, intergroup bias, self-
consciousness, impression management, self-image stability, instrumental
tendencies, hostile attribution bias, and reactive tendencies.
At-Risk Continuum A model ranging from minimal risk to high and imminent risk.
Favourable Demographics Positive static environmental factors linked to lower risk.
Positive Interaction Supportive interaction linked to lower risk.
Limited Stressors Few environmental stressors linked to lower risk.
Negative Demographics Static environmental factors linked to higher risk.
Negative Interaction Poor interaction patterns linked to higher risk.
Numerous Stressors Many stressors linked to higher risk.
Negative Attitudes, Emotions, and Skill Deficiency Dynamic psychological factors linked to higher risk.
Concepts, Theories &
Assessments 2026 | Study
Guide & Review
|Graded A+ | Guaranteed
success|
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
,Forensic Psychology Psychology applied to legal, criminal, and justice-related settings.
Five Domains of Forensic Psychology Developmental, criminal investigative, cognitive, social, and clinical areas of
forensic psychology.
Diagnostic Assessment Assessment involving interview and criminal history review.
Risk Assessment Assessment of potential outcomes and protective factors.
Formulation Explanation of motivation, reinforcement, and interaction involved in behaviour.
Intervention Skills-based work used in forensic psychology.
Static Risk Historical and stable risk factors.
Dynamic Risk Risk factors that are susceptible to change.
Protective Factors Internal, motivational, and external factors that reduce risk.
Interaction Theories Theories explaining behaviour through the interaction of factors.
At-Risk Tree A model using roots, soil, trunk, branches, and fruit to explain risk and outcomes.
Roots Assimilated experience from family, school, and peer group.
Soil Environmental resources such as socioeconomic, political, economic, and cultural
conditions.
Trunk Support through behaviours, attitudes, and skills.
Branches Adaptation shown in outcomes like school dropout, substance use, risky sexual
behaviour, delinquency, violence, and suicide.
, Fruit Contributions or outcomes.
Frustration-Aggression Aggression caused by interference with obtaining a goal.
Relational Aggression Aggression that harms social relationships and status.
Instrumental Aggression Cold, calculating aggression used as a means to an end.
Hostile Aggression Hot, emotional, purposeful harm.
Reactive Aggression Aggression in response to social threat.
Psychological Aggression Aggression linked to segregation, stereotypes, reputation, intergroup bias, self-
consciousness, impression management, self-image stability, instrumental
tendencies, hostile attribution bias, and reactive tendencies.
At-Risk Continuum A model ranging from minimal risk to high and imminent risk.
Favourable Demographics Positive static environmental factors linked to lower risk.
Positive Interaction Supportive interaction linked to lower risk.
Limited Stressors Few environmental stressors linked to lower risk.
Negative Demographics Static environmental factors linked to higher risk.
Negative Interaction Poor interaction patterns linked to higher risk.
Numerous Stressors Many stressors linked to higher risk.
Negative Attitudes, Emotions, and Skill Deficiency Dynamic psychological factors linked to higher risk.
