Forensic Psychology Facts
The field of psychology has numerous subgenres within it, which allows psychologists to specialize their practice based upon their own interests. Psychologists can enter into fields such as child psychology, research psychology or abnormal psychology. One field of psychology that is growing in popularity is forensic psychology. Forensic psychology can be further divided into subfields or combined with other areas of psychology.
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Definition
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There are some instances in which psychology and legal matters intersect. When law officials seek to understand why criminals commit crimes or handle psychological notions within the law, psychologists are often called upon. When criminal justice and psychology intersect, that field is known as forensic psychology. Forensic psychology is also used to assist attorneys in picking a jury, determining a criminal’s mindset at the time of a crime or handling offenders who may have a mental deficiency.
History
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According to West Chester University’s psychology department, one of the first forensic psychologists was Hugo Munsterberg. In 1908, Munsterberg published a book titled "On the Witness Stand." This book dealt with the issue of memory and psychology as they applied to judicial proceedings. Then, in 1916, a psychologist named Lewis Terman began working with law enforcement and created the Stanford-Binet intelligence test to assess applicants for police and firefighting jobs. This test is now the basis of tests used throughout the United States to evaluate law enforcement job applicants. The demand for psychologists within the field of law continued to rise over the next few decades.
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Education
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In order to practice psychology, a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in the field is needed. However, not many jobs are available to those looking into forensic psychology who only hold a bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree opens more doors in the forensic psychology field, with organizations such as correctional facilities and government agencies being more willing to hire someone with one. Most psychologists working in an independent practice continue to attend school in order to receive a doctorate in their area of study. In addition to psychology courses, those interested in forensic psychology should take some classes concerning criminology, criminal law and statistics. Gaining some work experience prior to graduation may help with the job outlook as well.
Careers
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Forensic psychologists work in a number of different areas. Some work with correctional facilities or law enforcement agencies. Others work with juvenile facilities or courts. Within these areas, forensic psychologists may be hired for counseling purposes, anger management or to evaluate suspects. Schools may hire forensic psychologists to help with studies involving how the brain works with regard to memory or criminal activity. In some cases, forensic psychologists opt to either open their own law firm or seek employment within an established law office. Forensic psychologists may also enter combined fields of psychology, such as clinical-forensic psychology or criminal investigative psychology.
Salary and Outlook
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The salary range for forensic psychologists within the United States is between $42,000 and $80,000 a year. The amount a forensic psychologist earns depends upon their experience level, employer and the state the psychologist practices in. Additionally, forensic psychologists with doctorates earn more than those with a master’s degree. Careers in forensic psychology have expanded over the years, with a good outlook for the field as more schools need research conducted and more law enforcement agencies need help with criminals.
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References
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