Psychology and the Law: Course Syllabus and Study Guide

Course Overview

This course, Psychology and the Law (PSYC 416), explores the intersection of psychological science and the legal system. It covers foundational concepts in forensic psychology, the application of psychological principles to legal issues, and the evaluation of psychological evidence in legal contexts.

Course Description

• Examines how psychological science informs legal systems, including issues related to criminal assessment, jury decision-making, and offender behavior.

• Focuses on the application of psychological research and theory to legal practice and policy.

Course Learning Outcomes

• Application of Foundational Knowledge: Demonstrate understanding of forensic psychology concepts, legal systems, and the interplay between psychology and law.

• Critical Thinking: Analyze and evaluate psychological evidence, research findings, and legal arguments.

• Cognitive Complexity: Articulate and synthesize complex ideas, integrating multiple perspectives and research findings.

• Communication: Craft clear and concise arguments, both in writing and oral presentations, using evidence-based reasoning.

Key Topics and Weekly Outline

Week	Topic	Key Concepts	Assignments
1	Introduction to Forensic Psychology	Overview of forensic psychology, history, and scope	Reflection Writing and Discussion
2	Police Psychology	Selection, training, psychological assessment of police	Reflection Writing and Discussion
3	Psychology of Investigations	Interrogation, confessions, eyewitness testimony	Reflection Writing and Discussion
4	Juries and Jury Decision-Making	Jury selection, group dynamics, verdicts	Reflection Writing and Discussion
5	Children as Witnesses	Child testimony, suggestibility, credibility	Quiz 1
6	Sentencing and Parole in Canada	Sentencing principles, parole, risk assessment	Reflection Writing and Discussion
7	Psychopathy	Characteristics, assessment, treatment challenges	Quiz 2
8	Assessment and Treatment of Young Offenders	Youth justice system, risk factors, interventions	Reflection Writing and Discussion
9	Partner Violence	Myths, realities, typologies, risk assessment	Term Paper Due
10	Future Directions in Forensic Psychology	Emerging issues, policy, professional ethics	Debate Presentations
11	Final Exam	Comprehensive review	Final Exam

Major Assignments and Evaluation

• Think-Pair-Share Reflection Writing and Discussion: Weekly reflections on course material (24%).

• Debate Group Presentations: Students debate key issues in forensic psychology (12%).

• Quizzes: Three quizzes covering course content (10%, 10%, 10%).

• Term Paper: In-depth research paper on a forensic psychology topic (21%).

• Final Exam: Cumulative assessment of all course material (25%).

Key Concepts in Psychology and Law

Forensic Psychology

• Definition: The application of psychological principles and methods to legal issues, including criminal investigations, court proceedings, and corrections.

• Examples: Assessing competency to stand trial, evaluating risk of reoffending, providing expert testimony.

Eyewitness Testimony

• Definition: Testimony given by an individual who has witnessed an event, often used as evidence in court.

• Key Issues: Memory reliability, suggestibility, lineup procedures, and the impact of stress on recall.

• Example: Research shows that eyewitness confidence does not always correlate with accuracy.

Jury Decision-Making

• Definition: The process by which a group of jurors evaluates evidence and reaches a verdict in a legal case.

• Factors Influencing Decisions: Group dynamics, pretrial publicity, instructions from the judge, and individual biases.

Psychopathy

• Definition: A personality disorder characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, lack of empathy, and superficial charm.

• Assessment: Commonly assessed using the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R).

• Implications: Psychopathy is associated with higher risk of recidivism and challenges in treatment.

Assessment and Treatment of Offenders

• Risk Assessment: Evaluating the likelihood that an individual will reoffend using structured tools and psychological evaluation.

• Treatment: Interventions may include cognitive-behavioral therapy, anger management, and rehabilitation programs.

Debate Topics in Forensic Psychology

• Use of offender interrogation techniques

• Effects of child witnesses

• Admissibility of eyewitness testimony

• Insanity defense

• Criminal psychopathy

• Death penalty for heinous offenders

• Mandatory treatment for sexual offenders

Required Texts

• Forensic Psychology (7th Ed.) by Pozzulo, Bennell, & Forth

Academic Integrity and Policies

• Strict adherence to academic integrity and avoidance of plagiarism is required.

• Use of generative AI must comply with university guidelines.

• Accessibility and inclusivity are emphasized in all course activities.

Additional info:

• This syllabus covers topics relevant to the following psychology chapters: Introduction to Psychology, Psychology Research, Biological Psychology, Cognition, Memory, Social Psychology, Psychological Disorders, and Treatment, with a focus on their application in legal contexts.