pAn example To answer this question, here we take an example of a murder, a man is found dead in his bedroom while his family was out of town and his neighbors found the dead body and informed the police. The police came and found a bullet wound in his chest. No suicidal note was found nearby the dead body. Now following questions originate:
a. Was it a suicide or a murder?
b. How can a medical examiner decide by only examining the dead body?
c. Can police get the real picture with the traditional way of investigation?
a. Was it a suicide or a murder?
b. How can a medical examiner decide by only examining the dead body?
c. Can police get the real picture with the traditional way of investigation?
- This is the situation when the need of a forensic psychologist becomes more important. No doubt police can investigate but not with all that sophistication, so a medical examiner and police can acquire help from a psychologist. A forensic psychologist is more appropriate person to deal with the situation. Psychologist’s work is some times more like a detective in this field. Psychologist plays an active role by assessing the multiple dimensions and aspects of the murder case.
- Usually people feel reluctance to tell the truth because of the police’s traditional way of investigation. Psychologists can help interview and probe family and neighbours.
- Psychologist can assess the personality type from collected information and come to the conclusion that whether the person had a personality that can commit suicide or not.
- Analyze medical records for presence/absence of mental illness.
- Create a profile
- Perform a psychological autopsy
Way of police investigation
Usually people are scared of the traditional way of police investigation and shows reluctance to help in solving any case. Because of the nature of job police has a tendency to involve that person in case and frequently include that person in the list of suspects. So, instead of telling the truth and helping police to come to the real picture people avoid all situation and shows avoidance.
Way of psychologist investigation
On the other hand psychologists can be very helpful in gathering the information through the application of psychological knowledge and principals. In clinical psychological evaluations, with few exceptions, the
psychologist interviews the person being evaluated and then administers a battery of tests appropriate to the referral question. Data is analyzed and a report is prepared. Typically, no other information is considered.
The assumption is made that the most part is correct so, that the examinee has been truthful during the interview and honest in answering test questions and no conscious attempts were made to look better or worse than the actual clinical picture.
In forensic psychology, however, there is an obvious motivation to consciously present a distorted picture for an obvious, distinctive secondary gain. To explore the real truth, forensic psychologist is required to be more careful and skillful. So, Forensic psychologists use different strategies to increase the objectivity and validity of opinions on psychological issues. Few of those assessment procedures are listed below:
Psychologists can help interview the family. Forensic psychologist can gather the information through interviewing the third party like close friends, neighbours office colleagues and other relevant people.
Forensic Psychologist can assess the personality type from collected information. Can analyze medical records for identifying the presence/absence of mental illness. Create a profile Perform a psychological autopsy.
Usually people are scared of the traditional way of police investigation and shows reluctance to help in solving any case. Because of the nature of job police has a tendency to involve that person in case and frequently include that person in the list of suspects. So, instead of telling the truth and helping police to come to the real picture people avoid all situation and shows avoidance.
Way of psychologist investigation
On the other hand psychologists can be very helpful in gathering the information through the application of psychological knowledge and principals. In clinical psychological evaluations, with few exceptions, the
psychologist interviews the person being evaluated and then administers a battery of tests appropriate to the referral question. Data is analyzed and a report is prepared. Typically, no other information is considered.
The assumption is made that the most part is correct so, that the examinee has been truthful during the interview and honest in answering test questions and no conscious attempts were made to look better or worse than the actual clinical picture.
In forensic psychology, however, there is an obvious motivation to consciously present a distorted picture for an obvious, distinctive secondary gain. To explore the real truth, forensic psychologist is required to be more careful and skillful. So, Forensic psychologists use different strategies to increase the objectivity and validity of opinions on psychological issues. Few of those assessment procedures are listed below:
Psychologists can help interview the family. Forensic psychologist can gather the information through interviewing the third party like close friends, neighbours office colleagues and other relevant people.
Forensic Psychologist can assess the personality type from collected information. Can analyze medical records for identifying the presence/absence of mental illness. Create a profile Perform a psychological autopsy.
