PSY 465 - Psychology and the Law

• Understanding the psychologist’s approach to the law and the dilemmas reflected in this approach along with understanding the roles that psychologists may play in the legal system.
• Understand and articulate how psychologists balance legality versus morality versus justice.
• Learn about the various ways that psychologists help with the selection and training of police. This includes understanding the personality characteristics of police and their relationship to the community.
• Understand and evaluate the psychological aspects of witnesses, suspects, and victims.
• Develop an understanding of and appreciation for forensic psychological assessment.
• Learn about the trial process and develop and appreciation for the special concerns involved with jury trials.
• Understand and assess the psychological components of punishment and sentencing
• Develop an appreciation for the varied and extensive sources of information/research that encompass topics that psychologists explore.
• Understand and assess the various techniques and tools that are available to psychologists within each the legal venues that they may be working.
• Learn about and critically evaluate how changing social value impact the tasks of psychologists within the legal arena.