The Application Of Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology, simply put, is the application of psychological principles in the pursuit of justice, within a justice setting. Forensic Psychologists apply the principles of psychology - either as an experimental exploration or in an applied setting (in court, for the purposes of the justice system, in a penitentiary or for criminological application). For example, in Critical Police Psychology Practice, forensic psychologists apply their science for Fitness for Duty Evaluation of law enforcement and justice professionals. In court, they evaluate if the accused can stand trial or if a potential individual can be a witness, or if the statements presented are valid and drawn from actual experience. They also evaluate candidates for roles within the law enforcement and justice system as well as counsel individuals after deadly force incidents. They help victims of abuse, including children, in coping with the demands of court, especially in providing testimony, working with them to draw statements and ascertain their validity.

Social Control Theory

Lately, we have studied social control theory (SCT) which is a group of theories that attempt to explain family behavior. Its general view proposes that people commit criminal behavior because of their socialization and environment. Their relationships, values, realities, practices, faith, culture beliefs, commitments and everyday life all come together to motivate them to act in a way that is contrary to what is seen as legal, acceptable and expected behavior in society. These behaviors are deviant and often lead to criminality in that they lack the attachment, commitment, involvement and set of beliefs that would otherwise control their behavior. Criminal behavior is constructed through socialization, exposure and practice. A child living in a home where the parents are irresponsible junkies for example exposes the child to habitual drug use in which the criminal and irresponsible behavior of the parents becomes the model from which the child forms of ideas of what is acceptable and isn't. Criminality is formed through immersion and exposure.

Application

In a forensic setting, an expert witness can be called to determine the psychological capacity of a young individual to stand trial. Let's say that the young man is accused of rape and aggravated bodily harm towards his girlfriend - with the girlfriend ending up in a hospital because of the violence of the beating and the rape. The forensic psychologist can use the principles of SCT to determine the environment and socialization of the accused to see thus if the socialization could have constructed the practice and perspective that normalized the behavior of rape and violence towards women. If the father or the household of the young man exhibited domestic violence when he was growing up, it can mean that such behavior has been normalized, with the young man developing a notion that such behavior is 'normal' having grown up with his father abusing his mother. Psychologically thus, they are aware and capable to decide right from wrong, with their family background allowing for possibility of violent behavior towards women.

SCT

The limitation of SCT in a clinical setting is in its focused purpose - the explanation of why the criminal behaved and/or behaves in a particular way. Ascertaining the mental disorder of the individual , or even determining if the individual is suffering from a mental disorder, is not precisely possible from this particular research as such goal requires other tools in a forensic psychologist's arsenal (i.e. application of Statement Validity Analysis). The study of Simons, Wurtele and Durham (2008) determined that developmental experiences of rapists and child sexual abusers are highlighted by violence and heightened sexuality proving that SCT can help in determining likely profiles for forensic application. It can perhaps also determine potential for suicide or hospitalization if the history of the individual - including that of family - involves suicide and self-harm. While it can predict based on construct of criminality, it cannot explain the 'thick' perspective utilized by the client/individual which limits the application of the research in practice.