Legal and Forensic Psychology What Is It and What It Is Not

This book seeks to distinguish empirically-based knowledge from widespread misconceptions in the fields of legal and forensic psychology. Across ten chapters, leading scholars contribute different perspectives on their areas of expertise within the fields of legal and forensic psychology, providing a comprehensive overview of the historical context and defining characteristics of these two disciplines. The first section of the book is dedicated to legal psychology, exploring issues such as pseudoscience in lie detection, the use of polygraphs, and the reliability of eyewitness testimony and memory reports in legal settings. The second focuses on forensic psychology, addressing topics such as the relationship between criminal behavior and psychopathology, symptom validity assessment, risk assessment, and the treatment of forensic patients. As such, this vital book will serve as an excellent starting point for those seeking to educate themselves about these disciplines.

Chapter 1 - Introduction: What is Legal and Forensic Psychology?.- Part I: Legal Psychology.- Chapter 2 – What is true about lie detection?.- Chapter 3 – What do ask and what to Do in the interview and interrogation?.- Chapter 4 – How good of an eye eyewitnesses Have?.- Chapter 5 - Concluding Remarks about Legal Psychology – Why not to forget about memory?.- Part II: Forensic Psychology.- Chapter 6 – What is wrong with a criminal mind?.- Chapter 7 – When should we doubt the pain?.- Chapter 8 – How to know where the risk is and can brain help us?.- Chapter 9 - Concluding Remarks about Forensic Psychology – “Les incurables”: How to approach treatment in forensic population?.- Chapter 10 - Binding Problems: Biases in legal and forensic psychology?.- Chapter 11 - Conclusion: What Legal and Forensic Psychology is not?.

Irena Boskovic is Assistant Professor of Forensic Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.