PSY711 Advanced Forensic Psychology FT (32)

CSU Discipline Area: Psychology (PSYCH)

Duration: Two sessions

Abstract:

This subject builds on the content and methods of first and second year subjects in exploring psychological issues in criminal law, family law, and civil litigation. Topics which are explored in depth include the psychological dimensions of criminal investigation and evidentiary matters, divorce, residence orders and contact, best interest of the child, psychological injury, malingering, and competencies. Students will be expected to attain a satisfactory level of competency in assessment of forensic clients, to design management programs for persons in forensic settings, and have an awareness of relevant professional and ethical issues.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations

No offerings have been identified for this subject in 2013.Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details prior to contacting their course coordinator: PSY711

Where differences exist between the handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Enrolment restrictions:

Doctor of Psychology (Forensic) students only

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

be able to take instructions from lawyers;
- prepare comprehensive psychological reports which are germane to the particular legal issue(s);
- assess and develop management programs for offenders;
- be aware of ethical issues, particularly those that impinge uniquely in the forensic setting such as potential role conflicts, informed consent, and boundaries of confidentiality;
- make significant contributions in the area of public policy in forensic issues;
- analyse the issues in the forensic domain, identify solutions to forensic problems, design and initiate programs to address those problems

Syllabus:

The subject will cover the following topics:

Issues in Criminal Law: - relevant legislation and court decisions; - profiling; - eyewitness testimony, including eyewitness identification; - hypnosis and drugs as investigatory tools; - detection of deception; - suggestibility and confessions; - psychological analysis of trial procedures; - psychological defences to criminal charges; - competency to stand trial; - assessment of risk Issues in Family Law: - overview of the Family Law Act; - biological, social, and psychological basis of marriage; - models of parenting - divorce-legal, social, and psychological implications - psychological correlates of the 'best interests of the child'; - re-marriage and blended families-issues for parents, children, and grandparents; - legal, social, and psychological consequences of adoption; - the role of counselling, mediation, negotiation, and arbitration in family law Issues in civil litigation: - the role of psychological injury in common and statutory law; - assessing pain and suffering; - psychological tests as agents of unfair discrimination; - harassment in the work place and psychological injury; - assessment of malingering - assessing competencies-testamentary, competencies of minors, competencies to manage one's life; - involuntary committal

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