Forensic Psychology

Course Description

Psychology, crime, and law are in many ways intimately intertwined - with interest in this interplay having grown significantly over the last 30 years. Research, pop culture, and lay interests are evident in the burgeoning worlds of crime thrillers and detective narratives (e.g., books, movies, various series), true crime podcasts, and the ongoing socio-cultural fascinations with organized crime, criminals, and serial killers. In this course, we take a historical, systemic, theoretical, and empirical dive into the interdisciplinary space of forensic psychology - offering a critical review of the science that informs it. The primary goal of this seminar-based course is to introduce the fundamental principles of different branches of forensic psychology, including policy and investigative psychology, legal psychology, criminal psychology, victimology, and correctional psychology. We examine topics such as mass shootings in the United States, white supremacist terrorism, and psychopathology, and go beyond “pop” narratives and lay understandings to get a deeper sense of these issues. Students will also learn about influential and hotly debated topics like structural racism in the judicial system, eyewitness statements, and interrogation techniques through lectures, class discussions, individual activities, and readings. All class materials are designed to spark nuanced thoughts and debate about theoretical views, empirical findings, and policy implications - as firmly grounded in cutting-edge psychological insights.