School Of PsychologyForensic Psychology in the Legal ContextWestern Sydney University Unit Code: 100038.1
Discipline: PSYCHOLOGY
Student Contribution Band: 1
Level: 4
Credit Points: 10
About this Unit
This unit has been replaced by 101198 - Principles and Practices of Forensic Psychology. This unit provides an overview of psychology in the legal context. Specifically it aims to introduce students to psychological perspectives and current issues in various forensic settings. Recently there has been increased interest in the interface between psychology and the law. The legal system and the law itself provide a fruitful domain of study for psychologists and this topic is now recognised as a major applied area in psychology. Most of the fundamental assumptions underlying law-making and the legal process are psychological and reflect a social construction of our world and actions. This unit provides students with an understanding of the contextual framework within which the law and legal systems operates: how well the law works, whose rules, and for whom. The study of various theoretical approaches and research enables students to critically evaluate practice and procedures, and examine proposed models for reform and change within the justice process.