Chapter 28: Forensic Psychology

Peter Banister

Forensic psychology In the context of this chapter it might be worth starting by some attempt at clarifying terminology in this field. Although this chapter is headed ‘forensic psychology’, this term is only gradually (but not universally) becoming accepted in the UK. It has been used in its current sense only relatively recently; the British Psychological Society (which is the professional body for psychologists in the UK) established a Division of Criminological and Legal Psychology in 1977. This title emphasized that psychologists working in this area tended to do so in criminal justice and legal settings. The initial choice of title highlighted that when it comes to looking at the causes of crime and attempts to reduce the incidence of crime psychologists needed to be aware of the contribution of other disciplines, including sociology, criminology, political science and economics. After extensive debate it was felt within the discipline that there ...

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