Exam (elaborations)
IOP2608 EXAM PACK 2023
- Institution
- University Of South Africa (Unisa)
IOP2608 EXAM PACK 2023
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IOP2608EXAM
PACK 2023
, IOP2608 NOTES
IOP 2608 EXAM PREP 2013
QUESTION 1: GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
• Forensic psychology can be defined as the application of psychological knowledge to the legal field.
• In practice, this is exactly what happens: a trained psychologist assists the legal profession in the deeper
understanding of human behaviour and human psychological functioning.
• In this respect it seems apt to point out the high degree of similarity and overlapping which, contrary to the
opinion of many a novice, actually exists between the legal and psychological fields.
• As is the case with psychology, the legal profession involves itself with humans and human behaviour.
• The legal profession was in the business of studying and modifying human behaviour centuries before the
profession of psychology even came into existence.
• Over the past approximately 2500 years the legal profession has been actively involved in ruling and
shaping human behaviour through the creation of legislation and application thereof in civil and criminal
cases.
• Through the legal profession humankind had been endeavouring to create an orderly society for the benefit
of all concerned, and as such legislation is created to regulate the behaviour of the individual in variety of
contexts with criminal law aimed at preventing and correcting deviant behaviour.
• It is interesting and enlightening to trace “psychological developments” within the evolution of law over
the centuries as lawmakers and judges attempted to understand human nature and to legislate and judge
accordingly.
• Ancient Greeks and Romans emphasised the “free will” of human beings that allowed the individual to
direct his or her behaviour on the basis of “intent”. Thus the individual had the capacity for evil intent,
which was deemed a prerequisite in the determination of innocence or guilt (mens rea). In the Middle
Ages in England, the practise existed of finding someone technically guilty, but granting a pardon if
personal circumstances justified it. Resulting in the acceptance of insanity as a recognised defence during
the sixteenth century and so called “wild beast test” a century later. Further clarified in 1843 when a legal
definition of this diagnosis was given in court. In this case special status was also given to physicians and
experts to assist in determining the diagnosis of insanity. Thus showing the overlapping between
psychology and legal field.
• Lawyers and judges are faced with having to resolve questions of a psychological nature and need the
expert knowledge of a trained forensic psychologist to help them in this task. Neither the forensic
psychologist nor legal expert base their knowledge and work on exact science.
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, IOP2608 NOTES
• In finding someone guilty the judge/ magistrate must weigh up the evidence before him and determine
whether the accused is innocent or guilty based on witness testimonies and the testimony of expert
witnesses once he is satisfied that all evidence presented was given truthfully depending on the crime he
can then pass sentence. When sentence is passed the magistrate or judge will consider the age of the
accused, his /her background and personality etc.
• The judge or magistrate arrives at his/her findings on the basis of probability to attain a judgement and
impose a suitable sentence. This applies in both criminal and civil cases as well. The language of
probability is, of course very much the language of the forensic psychologist or psychologist. No exact
statement regarding human functioning is ever possible. All findings and predictions regarding human
functioning and behaviour can only be made on the basis of probability.
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, IOP2608 NOTES
QUESTION 2: DISCUSS THE ROLE OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST IN THE FORENSIC CONTEXT
In criminal cases the forensic psychologist basically has two professional contributions to make:
1. Assess the criminal capacity of the accused either at the time of committing the alleged crime or at the
time of facing trial or both.
2. Assist the court by giving evidence in mitigation of sentence i.e. assisting the court in deciding on the
most appropriate sentence in a particular case.
In civil cases the forensic psychologist assists in:
1. Determining the degree of damage sustained either in third party cases (motor accident) or more seldom,
in other cases. This can involve assessment of brain damage and psychological trauma.
2. Assist in divorce proceedings where the court has to award custody and control of children.
3. Matters pertaining to curatorship, when decisions regarding an individual’s competency to handle his or
her own affairs must be made.
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