Branches of Psychology

Forensic Psychology

Citation Formats

General Reference

Psychology Atlas. "Forensic Psychology." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://psychology.interactiveatlas.org/branches/forensic-psychology.

APA Style

Psychology Atlas. (n.d.). Forensic Psychology. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://psychology.interactiveatlas.org/branches/forensic-psychology

BibTeX

@misc{psychologyatlas-forensic-psychology,
  author = {Psychology Atlas},
  title = {Forensic Psychology},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://psychology.interactiveatlas.org/branches/forensic-psychology},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

Forensic psychology is the branch of psychology that applies psychological principles, research and clinical skill to questions arising within the legal system, including assessing a defendant's competency to stand trial, conducting risk and custody evaluations, and advising courts on witness testimony. Trial consultants who work in this field are typically retained by one side in a case, which raises its own questions about how a scientific witness stays neutral inside an adversarial system.

Facts

Central Question

How can psychological science be applied within the legal and criminal justice system, from assessing competency and criminal responsibility to evaluating witness testimony? 1

Key Debate

Whether a forensic evaluator can remain a neutral scientific witness while frequently being retained and compensated by one side in an adversarial legal proceeding. 1

Cross-Tradition Connections

Includes

Elizabeth Loftus

Source Wikipedia: Elizabeth Loftus

Lost in the Mall Experiment

Source Wikipedia: Lost in the Mall Technique

Misinformation Effect

Source Wikipedia: Misinformation Effect

Sources

1. Wikipedia: Forensic Psychology

Wikimedia FoundationLead section

Quote, Lead section

the application of scientific knowledge and methods (in relation to psychology) to assist in answering legal questions

1. Wikipedia: Forensic Psychology

Wikimedia FoundationConsultations subsection

Quote, Consultations subsection

Because trial consultants are often hired by one specific side in a trial, these psychologists face many ethical issues.

Wikipedia: Elizabeth Loftus

Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Elizabeth Loftus, Career section (forensic applications)

Quote, Includes: Elizabeth Loftus, Career section (forensic applications)

She shifted from laboratory work to using 'real world' situations of criminal court cases.

Wikipedia: Misinformation Effect

Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Misinformation Effect, Daily applications, eyewitness testimony section

Quote, Includes: Misinformation Effect, Daily applications, eyewitness testimony section

After witnessing a crime or accident there may be opportunities for witnesses to interact and share information.

Wikipedia: Lost in the Mall Technique

Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Lost in the Mall Experiment, Origin and creators section

Quote, Includes: Lost in the Mall Experiment, Origin and creators section

It was first developed by Elizabeth Loftus and her undergraduate student Jim Coan, as support for the thesis that it is possible to implant entirely false memories in people.

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