| As a forensic discipline, forensic psychology can be | | | | view when it comes to defending or evaluating the |
| located within the broader discourse of forensic | | | | scientific credibility of forensic psychology.Criminal |
| science. However, compared to other forensic | | | | profiling represents a very clear case in point. For a |
| specialisms e.g. forensic pathology, forensic | | | | start, there is more than one approach to criminal |
| odontology etc, forensic psychology is often seen as | | | | profiling, the theoretical principles of which can differ |
| the poor relation.As with psychology in general, it is | | | | markedly. While it is possible to point to certain |
| often perceived, particularly by those outside the | | | | explanatory frameworks as subjective and |
| discipline as soft or pseudo science. Now while this is | | | | untestable, equally, it is possible to point to objective |
| often based on a misunderstanding of the practice of | | | | and testable statistical procedures being |
| psychology, it's not difficult to understand why this | | | | employed.The ability to compare and contrast a |
| viewpoint prevails.Take for instance criminal profiling, | | | | range of approaches and evaluate their respective |
| which rightly or wrongly is often presented as a topic | | | | strengths and weaknesses is an effective learning |
| within forensic psychology. There are a host of | | | | strategy and should be employed as a matter of |
| examples where criminal profiling has been shown to | | | | course within forensic psychology.To find out more |
| be inaccurate. The Washington sniper case being the | | | | about the fascinating world of forensic psychology, |
| most obvious example.Profiles indicated that a white | | | | visit my website: worked as a lecturer in psychology |
| man working alone was responsible. In the event, | | | | in the UK, I recently moved to sunny Spain with my |
| two black men, John Allen Muhammed and Lee Boyd | | | | family, where I now work as a distance learning tutor |
| Malvo were arrested and sentenced to life in prison | | | | and research dissertation supervisor.Since 2000, I've |
| for the killings.The American Academy of Forensic | | | | been involved in collaborative research with teams of |
| Sciences cites accuracy and precision as the | | | | forensic scientists in the UK, US and Canada.Keep |
| cornerstone of professional practice, which makes | | | | up-to-date with the world of forensic psychology by |
| perfect sense for a society dedicated to the | | | | reading the forensic psychology blog. This regularly |
| application of science to the law.Now while it is | | | | updated blog addresses the most common issues |
| possible to argue that so called 'hard' sciences can | | | | and questions raised by those thinking of or currently |
| also be found wanting when it comes to accuracy | | | | studying and working in the field. Among the topics |
| and precision, I'd suggest a more constructive | | | | covered are career and study options, forensic job |
| approach, particularly for students of forensic | | | | opportunites, conference listings, internships, forensic |
| psychology would be to seek out a more balanced | | | | research and psychological research methods. |