Introduction Summary
Towards an understanding
• Forensic psychology ≠ forensic science or law enforcement
• (Forensic) psychologist studies human behavior
• Tries to apply psychological principles to assist legal system
• “Forensic”
o “Forensis”
o Of the forum ~ van de markt dus economische toestand
o “Related to the law”
Combination between criminology, law and psychology
History
• Middle Ages and earlier: good and wrong related to religion, demons, witches, sinners …
o However: individual liability
o So you were at fault even though there was a demon inside you. Its kinda in
between!
• End of Middle Ages: first use of ‘insanity’
o New idea immurges
• 19th century: Lombroso: criminal atavism
o Criminals → physical anomalies/ fysieke afwijkingen to recognise a criminal
“In general, thieves are notable for their expressive faces and manual
dexterity, small wandering eyes that are often oblique in form, thick and
close eyebrows, distorted or squashed noses, thin beards and hair, and
sloping foreheads. Like rapists, they often have jug ears. Rapists, however,
nearly always have sparkling eyes, delicate features, and swollen lips and
eyelids. Most of them are frail; some are hunchbacked.” (Lombroso, 1876)
• 19th century: development of theories around insanity and criminal behavior
o 1879: First laboratory for experimental psychology (W. Wundt) in Leipzig
Start of psychology as a science
o 1908: ‘On the witness stand’ (Münsterberg)
Series of essays to describe research on eyewitness, testimony, false
confessions and uses of psychology in legal problems
• 20th century: psychologists were more and more called upon to apply their (rudimentary)
knowledge to the legal system as expert (e.g., testifying as expert witness)
o Psychology = a tool in arriving at fair and just legal outcomes
Jenkins v. United States (1962): court ruled that psychological testimony
could be admitted to determine criminal responsibility (i.e., insanity)
→ Forensic psychologists now routinely testify in insanity cases after
evaluating defendants
o 1961: Stanley Milgram Experiments
Probably everyone could behave criminally or show criminal behaviour when
place in some situations that might suggest this.
1
Towards an understanding
• Forensic psychology ≠ forensic science or law enforcement
• (Forensic) psychologist studies human behavior
• Tries to apply psychological principles to assist legal system
• “Forensic”
o “Forensis”
o Of the forum ~ van de markt dus economische toestand
o “Related to the law”
Combination between criminology, law and psychology
History
• Middle Ages and earlier: good and wrong related to religion, demons, witches, sinners …
o However: individual liability
o So you were at fault even though there was a demon inside you. Its kinda in
between!
• End of Middle Ages: first use of ‘insanity’
o New idea immurges
• 19th century: Lombroso: criminal atavism
o Criminals → physical anomalies/ fysieke afwijkingen to recognise a criminal
“In general, thieves are notable for their expressive faces and manual
dexterity, small wandering eyes that are often oblique in form, thick and
close eyebrows, distorted or squashed noses, thin beards and hair, and
sloping foreheads. Like rapists, they often have jug ears. Rapists, however,
nearly always have sparkling eyes, delicate features, and swollen lips and
eyelids. Most of them are frail; some are hunchbacked.” (Lombroso, 1876)
• 19th century: development of theories around insanity and criminal behavior
o 1879: First laboratory for experimental psychology (W. Wundt) in Leipzig
Start of psychology as a science
o 1908: ‘On the witness stand’ (Münsterberg)
Series of essays to describe research on eyewitness, testimony, false
confessions and uses of psychology in legal problems
• 20th century: psychologists were more and more called upon to apply their (rudimentary)
knowledge to the legal system as expert (e.g., testifying as expert witness)
o Psychology = a tool in arriving at fair and just legal outcomes
Jenkins v. United States (1962): court ruled that psychological testimony
could be admitted to determine criminal responsibility (i.e., insanity)
→ Forensic psychologists now routinely testify in insanity cases after
evaluating defendants
o 1961: Stanley Milgram Experiments
Probably everyone could behave criminally or show criminal behaviour when
place in some situations that might suggest this.
1
