1. Core Areas of Forensic Psychology

 A. Criminal Psychology (Offender Behavior)

• Studies thoughts, motives, and personality of criminals
• Answers questions like:
  • Why did the person commit the crime?
  • Was it planned or impulsive?
• Includes criminal profiling

B. Legal Psychology

• Focuses on how psychological factors affect:
  • Judges’ decisions
  • Jury behavior
  • Eyewitness memory (which can be unreliable!)

C. Clinical Forensic Psychology

• Deals with mental health of offenders
• Determines:
  • Is the accused mentally fit to stand trial?
  • Did they understand their actions?

D. Victim Psychology

• Studies emotional and psychological impact on victims
• Helps in trauma recovery and counseling

2. Key Concepts in Forensic Psychology

 1. Criminal Responsibility

• Whether a person is legally responsible for their actions
• Linked with mental illness (insanity defense)

2. Competency to Stand Trial

• Can the accused:
  • Understand court proceedings?
  • Communicate with a lawyer?

3. Risk Assessment

• Predicts chances of re-offending (recidivism)
• Used in bail and parole decisions

4. Eyewitness Testimony

• Human memory is not perfect
• Stress, fear, or suggestion can distort memory

3. Methods Used

 A. Interviews

• Structured or unstructured questioning

 B. Psychological Testing

• IQ tests, personality tests, mental health assessments

 C. Behavioral Analysis

• Studying crime scenes and patterns

 D. Case Studies

• Deep analysis of individual cases

4. Role in the Criminal Justice System

 Investigation Stage

• Help police understand offender behavior
• Create profiles

 Trial Stage

• Provide expert testimony in court

 Correction Stage

• Work in prisons for:
  • Rehabilitation
  • Therapy programs

5. Real-Life Applications

• Serial killer profiling
• Child custody cases
• Domestic violence cases
• Fraud and cybercrime behavior analysis
• Terrorism psychology

Limitations of Forensic Psychology

• Not always 100% accurate
• Human behavior is complex
• Profiles are predictions, not proof
• Risk of bias in judgment

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