School Of PsychologyPrinciples and Practices of Forensic PsychologyWestern Sydney University Unit Code: 101198.1
Discipline: PSYCHOLOGY
Student Contribution Band: 1
Level: 4
Credit Points: 10
Equivalent Units
100034 - Introduction to Forensic Psychology, 100038 - Forensic Psychology in the Legal Context
Unit Enrolment Restrictions
This unit is restricted to students enrolled in courses 1500 Bachelor of Psychology Specialist Year and 1502 Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology only.
About this Unit
Forensic Psychology is where psychological knowledge and research is applied to the components of the legal and justice systems. Law and psychology can be seen as two significant points on the same axis in the quest to understand the meaning of human behaviour. 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 area in applied psychology since most of the fundamental assumptions underlying the legal and justice systems are psychological in nature. This unit provides students with practical skills to work in the many settings in which forensic psychologists work within the law and justice administration including probation and parole, policing, juvenile justice, the courts, and corrections. Specifically it aims to introduce students to psychological practice and current issues in various forensic settings.