Forensic Psychology [with InfoTrac]

by Solomon M. Fulero, Lawrence S. Wrightsman

Written by two of the leading authorities in the field, FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY, Second Edition introduces students to the practice of forensic psychology by showing readers how psychologists aid the legal system by serving as expert witnesses, criminal profilers, and trial consultants for jury selection and child custody hearings. Wrightsman and Fulero present the roles and responsibilities of forensic psychologists, and addresses both the opportunities and temptations inherent in those roles. Through this lens, the authors explore the ethical issues facing practicing forensic psychologists, such as promising clients too much, the possibility of becoming advocates rather than objective scientists, and the pitfalls associated with substituting one's values for data. Wrightsman and Fulero provide students with an accurate and candid picture of the field, and the range of careers in forensic psychology.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, School, Science, Textbooks

454 pages, Hardcover

First published August 7, 2000

Reviews

[Mark Isaak · Rating 3 out of 5]

The authors take a broad definition of forensic psychology: any application of psychology to the legal system; and thus they consider how psychology applies to police procedures, witnesses, juries and jury selection, and legal advocacy, and the psychologists' role as consultant, expert witness, and advocate. Among other things, chapters are devoted to insanity and competency, "syndromes", child sexual abuse, child custody, eyewitness identifications, interrogations and confessions, and discrimination. On the whole, the book (published 2009) does not seem outdated in 2023. The book appears fairly objective and balanced, but it left me frustrated many times by the law's extraordinarily slow uptake in acknowledging facts it has not yet acknowledged. There is no glossary. But the biggest lapse is that several references cited in the text do not appear in the bibliography.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the subject matter was interesting and well-written, I wish they would have defined the bolded terms either immediately before or after. I found myself re-reading several paragraphs before and after each term to see if I could find its meaning. The book does not have a glossary either. It was extremely frustrating, especially since some terms weren't defined until they were repeated in the next chapter.