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Is a career in forensic psychology for you? First, do a reality check. Forensic psychology is a broad, diverse field that applies psychology to the law. Thanks to fictional characters in TV and movies, many think working in forensic psychology is about being a crime-fighting "profiler" who creates psychological sketches of criminals. More accurately, very few in forensic psychology work exclusively as criminal profilers. Instead, forensic psychology is a rapidly growing career category with opportunities in many sub-fields. Deciding what area interests you will take some investigation. To work in the field of forensic psychology, you'll need a master's or doctoral psychology degree—usually a PhD in general clinical psychology—along with specialized study later in your training, such as a fellowship, internship or additional course work. You will likely be involved in teaching or research in a university setting, and may often provide expert testimony in court cases. How your work would apply to the legal system depends on the focus of your psychology degree.  Subfields of Forensic Psychology Once you've decided upon forensic psychology as your career choice, there are several subfields to choose from. Here are some branches of psychology that also work with the legal system: Clinical Psychology As a clinical psychologist, you generally focus on assessing and treating individuals with mental disorders. In the context of law, clinical forensic psychologists study a wide range of issues and often work with those convicted of a crime within the criminal justice system. You may be involved in evaluating jury selections, the mental health of persons in a criminal or civil case, or the validity of an insanity defense, police confession or eyewitness testimony. Like many who work in one of the sub-fields of forensic psychology, you would likely serve often as an expert witness in court. Read more about Clinical Psychology>> Developmental Psychology In the legal realm, developmental psychologists regularly assess the competency of children and the elderly in decision-making ability, understanding legal proceedings and the validity of testimony. They may also help in custody cases by appraising the needs of children and families due to divorce or separation. Like clinical psychologists, developmental psychologists typically teach and conduct research in academic and medical schools. Read more about Developmental Psychology>> Social Psychology A psychology degree in social psychology will enable you to study how society influences the way people behave. You may advise lawyers and courts on matters of witness credibility, jury selection, and how external factors can affect eyewitness memory. Periodically, social psychologists act as trial consultants or offer counsel regarding legal policy. Read more about Social Psychology>> Cognitive Psychology If you enjoy studying how the mind works, then you might consider a cognitive psychology degree. Within the legal system, you would examine the mental processes of criminals, witnesses, as well as the judge and jury. Cognitive psychologists analyze what motivates criminal behavior, the most effective methods of detecting deception, and how perception and memory is influenced in eyewitness testimony. Read more about Cognitive Psychology>>  |
