PSYC 395 Forensic Psychology UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
summarize the debate surrounding expert testimony on eyewitness issues.
What is the quality and accuracy of eyewitness descriptions of perpetrators? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- While many researchers maintain that expert witnesses can provide expert
testimony in court on issues such as lineup procedures, interview procedures and confidence-
accuracy relationship, some disagree.
The argument is that experts are overconfident in their conclusions and mislead courts as to
the validity, consistency and generalizability of the data.
research has varied results, often uses university students (specific demongraphic), not
matching the reality of witness experiences.
*Discuss the difficulty in defining the nature of forensic psychology. - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- it is very broad and diverse.
Clinical F.P conduct assessments, evaluations, and treatment- work in criminal courts and
provide opinion to the court. They answer questions about the care of children and families
ability to care for them- also they evaluate people who have lawsuits.
Some FP do experimental work that may influence how laws are made or carried out.
they analyse the psychological details of cases. They also work with people who are
demonstrating extreme emotional states.
*What is the difference between a forensic psychologist and a forensic psychiatrist? -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Both occupations intersect with the law and mental health, but
there are differences:
Psychologist: Involved in research, PhD, specializes in specific aspect of the law- criminal,
civil, family. A research degree.
,Psychiatrist: Medical doctor who specializes in mental health and the law, prescribes
medications, conducts assessments. A medical degree. Assess and evaluate the victim,
suspect, or witness. forensic psychologist that tends to focus on evaluating and measuring the
mental capacity of the criminal defendant
*Differentiate "psychology in the law" from "psychology of the law." - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔- IN: The use of psychology in the legal system as it already operates.
Researchers conduct experiments and bring to light new and useful information that can then
be used by lawyers, judges, social workers to guide decisions. So psychology in the law
means using psychological knowledge IN the legal system.
Ex: an expert witness who draws on current research relevant to a particular case prior to
testifying.
OF: The use of psychology to examine the law itself. Psychology of the law addresses
research questions to be studied. Ex: Does the law create order in society? This type of
psychology is not considered one of the fundamental aspects of forensic psychology, but
interest is growing. Answering research questions is challenging because it often involves
multiple disciplines- sociology, criminology, law.
AND: Psychology is viewed as a separate discipline. This kind of psychology examines
assumptions made by the law or our legal system by asking questions like Are eyewitnesses
accurate? Are judges fair in the way they hand down sentences? is it possible to predict which
offenders will be violent when they are released from prison? FP attempt to answer these
kinds of questions so that they can be communicated to the legal community.
Most of FP is AND the law.
*Outline three major theories about the cause of crime. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-
Biological: Mark and Ervin's dyscontrol theory. They proposed that lesions in the temporal
lobe and limbic system result in electrical disorganization within the brain, which leads to a
dyscontrol syndrome. Symptoms of dyscontrol syndrome could include outbursts of sudden
physical violence, impulsive sexual behaviour, and serious traffic violations.
Sociological: Merton's (1938) strain theory. Merton proposed that crime is largely a product
of the strain felt by certain individuals in society, typically the lower class, who have
restricted access to legitimate means (e.g., education) of achieving goals of success (e.g.,
status). Merton argued that, while some of these individuals will be happy with the lesser
goals that are achievable, others will turn to illegitimate means (e.g., crime) in an attempt to
achieve the valued goals.
,Psychological: Akers's (1973) social learning theory. Akers suggested that crime is learned in
the same way that noncriminal behaviour is learned. The likelihood of becoming a criminal
increases when one interacts with individuals who favour antisocial attitudes; when one is
exposed to role models, either in person or symbolically, who exhibit antisocial behaviour;
when one defines antisocial behaviour as justified in a particular situation; and when one has
received (and expects to receive) a greater degree of rewards versus punishments for
antisocial behaviour.
*Give five reasons why police discretion is necessary - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- The
reason for allowing police to practice discretion is that it is impossible to establish laws or
policies that encompass all the possible situations that an officer may find herself in.
There are many important reasons why police discretion is necessary:
1- An officer who attempts to enforce all of the laws at all times would forever be in court
and at the police station, and of no use to his force or the safety of the community.
2- Some laws are passed that are not intended to be enforced all the time.
3- Some laws are vague, making it necessary for police to interpret them and decide when to
apply them.
4- Most law violations are minor and don't require full enforcement of the law.
5- Full enforcement of the law at all times would alienate the public and undermine support
for the police.
*What is the Reid model? Describe the model's key stages in police interrogation. Of the nine
steps for stage 3, which two do you feel to be the most critical? Justify your answer. -
CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- the Reid model can take several forms, but generally consists of
a three-part process. The first stage is to gather evidence related to the crime, and interview
witnesses and victims. The second stage is to conduct a non-accusatorial interview of the
suspect to assess any evidence of deception. the third stage is to conduct an accusatorial
interrogation of the suspect. The third stage has nine steps with the objective of securing a
confession.
7. The suspect is offered explanations for the crime, which makes self-incrimination easier to
achieve. For example, rather than the suspect being involved in an intentional homicide,
which would carry a very severe penalty, the interrogator may suggest to a murder suspect
that the crime he or she committed was accidental (e.g., the result of an argument that simply
went wrong).
8. Once the suspect accepts responsibility for the crime, typically by agreeing with one of the
alternative explanations, the interrogator develops this admission into a full confession for the
crime in question.
, Some of the other steps involve lying about evidence, interrupting the suspect and faking
sympathy.
*How have the courts viewed police interrogation methods? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔-
Judges don't have to admit confession evidence to court. The decision to allow or dismiss
confession evidence rests on the discretion of the trial judge. They will typically allow if the
confession was made voluntarily and if the defendant was competent when he provided the
confession.
The terms voluntary and confession are however, not well defined. A confession is typically
excluded if it was elicited by force, prolonged isolation, deprivation of food or sleep, threats
of harm or punishment, promised of immunity or leniency and without notifying the suspect
of their rights.
Confessions elicited by more subtle forms of psychological coercion are usually admitted to
court.
the Reid model is an example of a technique that trained officers can use to extract
confessions from suspects. Also good cop, bad cop (minimization techniques.
*The disciplines of law and psychology have significant differences. Briefly describe five of
these dimensions. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Understanding the relationship between
psychology and the law helps us understand why there is reluctance from the courts to admit
testimony from psych experts. There are differences between the disciplines that can lead to
conflict.
Knowledge: Psychologists amass a body of knowledge through psychological research. This
research is accomplished through empirical studies, observational research, surveys, archival
research. Law gathers its knowledge through legal precedent and case law.
Methodology: The main goal of psych research is to understand trends and patterns in
situations and populations. This goal is accomplished through experiments and analysis. The
law operates more on a case by case basis. There are precedents that guide decisions, but id
the slightest detail is different, it can be appealed to supreme court.
Criteria: Willingness to accept something as true is done with caution in psych. Even when
one researcher has a certain result, it needs to be replicated. The law decides truth based on
single criteria and criteria are more lenient than those used in psychological research.
