Photo: Crowd by Mimi_K at flickr.com
-
What makes people want to help others?
-
What makes them reluctant, even when another person clearly needs help?
-
How come we can all watch the same event and yet perceive it differently?
-
What is IQ and how valid is it as an indication of that multi-faceted quality, intelligence?
-
Why are you different from your brothers and sisters, even though you share some genes and have had a similar upbringing?
-
What mental skills do you possess now that you didn’t possess in Grade 5?
-
Why do young children often adore their parents and yet, during the teenage years, begin to view them far more critically?
*************************************************************
These are the types of questions you might be able to answer, or at least intelligently consider, after studying Year 11 Psychology. There are many more. Topics include the meaning and history of psychology; the methods of psychological research; visual perception; the human lifespan; cognitive, emotional and social development; the use of animals in research; intelligence; personality; and social behaviour.
Forensic psychologists are vital in solving crimes and finding CRIMEinals… a criminal..However many a year are required to train up and study to become a master in the ways of forensic psychology.
The first challenge you must overcome is you need to acquire a doctorate in clinical psychology, forensic psychology or counseling. Each of these three programs can take between 5 to 7 years to complete, followed by a fellowship in forensics. The next qualification you’ll need is a state license, which is required for all practicing psychologists. The minimum requirements you’ll find in any state are 1 year of fieldwork, a degree from an accredited institution and of course, you’ll have to pass the state certification exam.
you need to be able to transfer your reports into legal language that can be used in court. A forensic pyschologist must be tough to work within the legal and court system as they come across tough cases and somewhat ‘evil’ people.
They profile CRIMEinals..to help solve crimes and predict their actions however they are not always accurate and there is great pressure on the psychologist to make true predictions.
This form of psychologist is crucial in our society and Alastair can only dream of becoming one.
– Alicja and Alastair
Forensic Psychology
Forensic psychology is the practice or study of psychology and the law. Forensic psychologists work in places like prisons, schools and government agencies.
A famous forensic psychologist is James McKeen Cattell who studied the psychology of testimony. He gave students at Columbia University a series of questions, and had them respond and rate their level of confidence in their answers. He realized there was a startling amount of inaccuracy, and lack of confidence in responses.
Forensic psychologists can be counted as expert witnesses during the trialling of a criminal.