Objectives and competences
To acquire knowledge of psychological theories and specific methods which are essential for the understanding of human behaviour in the context of police work, criminal investigation and court procedures or decisions.
Content (Syllabus outline)
• Review of forensic psychology
• Police psychology
Candidate selection
Counseling and therapy
Police stress
Crisis situations
• Investigative psychology
Profiling
Interviewing victims and witnesses
Interviewing victims of sexual abuse
Interviewing suspects
Detecting deceit and truth
False confessions
Analysis of intelligence in criminal investigation
• Violent offenders
Sexual offenders and murderers
• Victims of crime
• Eyewitness testimony
Veracity of testimony
Eyewitness identification
• Mental disturbances and crime
• Expert witness in court
Learning and teaching methods
Lectures, case studies, individual and group work.
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
Acquisition of basic psychological knowledge and methods connected with criminal investigation and effective police work.
A student knows and understands the value of key techniques and methods used in forensic psychology.
Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes
• Basic ability to conduct an interrogation or an investigative interview
• Ability to perceive false confessions and deceits
• To know how to verify suspect statements
• Basic skills of dealing with victims of crime and traffic accidents
• Basic ability to verify eyewitness testimony
Knowledge of crisis management.
Readings
• Areh, I. (2011). Forenzična psihologija: predstavitev, pričanje in ugotavljanje laži. Fakulteta za varnostne vede.
• Areh, I. (2016). Police interrogations through the prism of science. Psihološka obzorja = Horizons of Psychology, 25, 18–28. http://psiholoska-obzorja.si/arhiv_clanki/2016/areh.pdf
• Areh, I. (2023). Forenzična psihologija (gradivo za študijski predmet univerzitetnega študijskega programa). Fakulteta za varnostne vede.
• Bartol, C. R. in Bartol, B. A. M. (2019). Introduction to forensic psychology. Sage.
• Davis, T. (2021). Forensic psychology: Fact and fiction. MacMillan International.
• Jaklin, K. in Areh, I. (2021). Analiza komunikacije v kazenskih sodnih postopkih. Revija za kriminalistiko in kriminologijo, 72(3), 245–263.
Prerequisits
Knowledge of psychology from the first year of study.
Additional information on implementation and assessment Assessment:
The final grade depends on the sum of points which can be obtained by:
- exam: 60 %,
- essay: 30 %,
- active participation in seminar discussions, participating in lectures: 10 %.
