research topics for criminal psychology

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Amazing 50 Criminal Psychology Research Paper Topics

When it comes to criminal psychology research papers, you have the freedom to write any relevant topic on the subject. You could explore any topic under the sun related to crime, forensics, and criminal behavior. To get you started, we’ve put together a list of 50 intriguing topics to spark your imagination. Are psychopaths born or made? How can we rehabilitate offenders? What motivates serial killers? These are just a few criminal psychology research questions you could explore in your criminal psychology research paper. Whatever criminal psychology topics you choose, make sure to do your due diligence and provide citations for all of your sources.

Interesting Criminal Psychology Research Topics

Intriguing forensic psychology research topics, well-thought forensic psychology research paper topics, fascinating psychology and law research topics, hot topics in forensic psychology.

• Do You Need Forensic Psychology Topics For Research Paper?

Are you looking for an interesting topic for your research on criminal psychology? Whether you are a high school student, undergraduate, or postgraduate student, be sure to develop an excellent criminal psychology research paper. Let’s discuss several research topics that you can explore.

• The role of psychological theories in explaining criminal thoughts
• Understanding criminal sentiments and behaviors in adult men
• Weaknesses of psychological theories in explaining crime
• How emotions inhibit and facilitate crime among young adults
• Is there a relationship between personality attributes and crime?
• Is poverty the main cause of crime? A psychology review
• The relationship between antisocial behavior and crime among the youth.
• Does childhood aggression and divorce contribute a lot to crime?
• Clinical psychologists and police investigators: A detailed relationship
• Criminal psychology and genetics: Is there any relationship?

It can be tough to come up with forensic psychology topics because you can’t tell where to start most times. Issues in forensic psychology will provide some great suggestions. If you’re just starting or looking for new ideas, read our list keenly.

• How forensic psychologists’ prowess in communication influences the roles
• Forensic psychology in showcasing tragedy. pathologies and human frailties
• Mental health and committing a crime: A forensic study report
• Forgery crimes and the nature of victim’s handwriting: An expert view on the true relationship
• How witness profile affects the overall results in forensic studies
• Is forensic psychology more of science or common sense?
• The role of criminal forensic psychology programs meant for experienced psychologists
• Evaluations of crime risks and forensic psychology
• Understanding abnormal behaviors in forensic assignments
• How drugs and psychopharmacology influence forensic results.

Are you a history student looking for great forensic psychology topics for paper? Forensic psychology combines psychology and law, and it offers many psychology and law topics to explore. Here are some well-thought-out topics to get you started:

• The impact of mental health on criminal behavior
• Forensic assessment in the courtroom setting
• Ethics is a major challenge in forensic psychology examinations
• A psychological perspective on how testimonies and false information hinder crime evaluation
• Psychotherapy with incarcerated individuals
• Forensic psychologists and social media: A review on how social media platforms continue to play a major role
• Forensic psychology stereotypes and the best way forward in developed countries
• Rehabilitation and recidivism rates in convicted criminals
• Religious and ethical beliefs and practices as a hindrance to forensic audits
• The use of forensic psychologists in death investigations

History students are always busy when writing their final papers. It’s because writing criminal and legal psychology papers isn’t a walk in the park. You must analyze several forensic psychology research questions to come up with forensic psychology paper topics that work for you. If you want the best psychology and law research topics, look no further!

• Religion rules and regulations and contributions to crimes in developed countries
• Capital punishment is a way to create a productive and crime-free society
• The role played by courts of law in lowering criminal activities
• Is there any justice in lengthy convictions after committing minor crimes?
• Understanding human rights and what needs to change to protect women from crime better
• Human trafficking and slavery as the basis of today’s crime and torture
• How jury selection influences justice in criminal cases that start at the prostitution level
• Bullying and crime and why legal enactments are needed to avoid crime due to frustrations.
• Psychology and legal crimes among top security officials
• Internet laws and criminal psychology: A review of must-have changes

As forensic psychology students, you need to know about the latest forensic psychology issues, trends, and developments in the field. We will explore the most current and controversial topics in forensic psychology. Here we go!

• Is criminal profiling effective?
• Profiling methods and accuracy of the different information revealed
• Myths about criminal profiling that most people are not talking about
• Criminal psychology behavior analysis: Amber alert informative speech
• African-Americans and their relationship with criminal police
• Sexual abuse has a major impact on crime in middle-class society
• Technological signs of progress in handling crime: A focus on psychology, crime, and technology.
• Authorities and their contribution to crime: Criminal psychology view on power.
• A study on peer pressure and criminal psychology
• How Violence in the homes and media facilitates crime

Do You Need Forensic Psychology Topics For Research Paper? Talk To Us

Criminal psychology research often goes into the minds of criminals and their thought processes to better understand them. That’s why there’s a lot you can handle in criminal psychology. You’ll often get topic ideas from criminal Sentiments and psychological theories, historical happenings around criminal psychology , criminal profiling, criminal behavior, and the causes and effects of crime.

Again, a lot of criminal psychology research is centered on trying to understand what causes individuals or groups of people to commit crimes or specific types of crimes. We go beyond that and suggest captivating psychology and the law research topics and, more so, write your paper irrespective of the issues in forensic psychology you want to talk about. Talk to us now.

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Forensic psychology research topics.

Criminal Competencies Research Topics

Adjudicative Competence of Youth Capacity to Waive Rights Capacity to Waive Miranda Rights Checklist for Competency for Execution Evaluations Competence Assessment for Standing Trial for Defendants With Mental Retardation (CAST*MR) Competency, Foundational and Decisional Competency Restoration Competency Assessment Instrument (CAI) Competency for Execution Competency Screening Test (CST) Competency to Be Sentenced Competency to Confess Competency to Stand Trial Competency to Waive Appeals Competency to Waive Counsel (Proceed Pro Se) Delusions Evaluation of Competence to Stand Trial–Revised (ECST–R) Fitness Interview Test–Revised (FIT–R) Georgia Court Competence Test (GCCT) Grisso’s Instruments for Assessing Understanding and Appreciation of Miranda Rights Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scales Hallucinations Interdisciplinary Fitness Interview (IFI) MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Criminal Adjudication (MacCAT–CA) Psychotic Disorders

Criminal Responsibility Research Topics

Evaluation of Aggravating and Mitigating Circumstances in Capital Cases American Bar Association Resolution on Mental Disability and the Death Penalty Automatism Battered Woman Syndrome Battered Woman Syndrome Testimony Criminal Responsibility Assessment Criminal Responsibility Defenses and Standards Delusions Diminished Capacity Dissociative Identity Disorder Extreme Emotional Disturbance Guilty but Mentally Ill Verdict Hallucinations Insanity Defense Reform Act (IDRA) Mens Rea and Actus Reus Mental Illness and the Death Penalty Mental Retardation and the Death Penalty M’Naghten Standard Psychotic Disorders Rogers Criminal Responsibility Assessment Scales (R–CRAS)

Death Penalty Research Topics

Evaluation of Aggravating and Mitigating Circumstances in Capital Cases Aggravating and Mitigating Circumstances Effects of on Jurors in Capital Trials American Bar Association Resolution on Mental Disability and the Death Penalty Capital Mitigation Checklist for Competency for Execution Evaluations Competency for Execution Death Penalty Death Qualification of Juries Jury Understanding of Judges’ Instructions in Capital Cases Juvenile Death Penalty Mental Illness and the Death Penalty Mental Retardation and the Death Penalty Moral Disengagement and Execution Religion and the Death Penalty Victim Impact Statements

Divorce and Child Custody Research Topics

Ackerman-Schoendorf Parent Evaluation of Custody Test (ASPECT) Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory Child Custody Evaluations Child Maltreatment Child Sexual Abuse Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) Divorce and Child Custody Parent-Child Relationship Inventory (PCRI) Parenting Satisfaction Scale (PSS) Parenting Stress Index (PSI) Tender Years Doctrine Termination of Parental Rights Uniform Child Custody Evaluation System (UCCES)

Education and Professional Development Research Topics

Diplomates in Forensic Psychology Doctoral Programs in Forensic Psychology Ethical Guidelines and Principles Master’s Programs in Forensic Psychology Postdoctoral Residencies in Forensic Psychology Trial Consultant Training

Eyewitness Memory Research Topics

Alcohol Intoxication Impact on Eyewitness Memory Appearance-Change Instruction in Lineups Clothing Bias in Identification Procedures Cognitive Interview Computer-Assisted Lineups Confidence in Identifications Confidence in Identifications Malleability Conformity in Eyewitness Reports Cross-Race Effect in Eyewitness Identification Double-Blind Lineups Elderly Eyewitnesses Estimator and System Variables in Eyewitness Identification Expert Psychological Testimony on Eyewitness Identification Accuracy of Eyewitness Descriptions Eyewitness Identification: Effect of Disguises and Appearance Changes Eyewitness Identification: Field Studies Eyewitness Identification: General Acceptance in the Scientific Community Eyewitness Memory Lay Beliefs About Eyewitness Memory Facial Composites False Memories Forced Confabulation Hypnosis and Eyewitness Memory Best Practices in Identification Tests Instructions to the Witness Juries and Eyewitnesses Lineup Fillers Lineup Size and Bias Motions to Suppress Eyewitness Identification Mug Shots Neil v. Biggers Criteria for Evaluating Eyewitness Identification Optimality Hypothesis in Eyewitness Identification Police Eyewitnesses Popout Effect in Eyewitness Identification Postevent Information and Eyewitness Memory Presence of Counsel Safeguard and Eyewitness Identification Reconstructive Memory Repeated Recall Repressed and Recovered Memories Response Latency in Eyewitness Identification Retention Interval and Eyewitness Memory Showups Simultaneous and Sequential Lineup Presentations Source Monitoring and Eyewitness Memory Stress and Eyewitness Memory Training of Eyewitnesses Unconscious Transference Verbal Overshadowing Voice Recognition Weapon Focus Effect

Forensic Assessment Research Topics

Ackerman-Schoendorf Parent Evaluation of Custody Test (ASPECT) Adjudicative Competence of Youth Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) Evaluation of Aggravating and Mitigating Circumstances  in Capital Cases American Bar Association Resolution on Mental Disability and the Death Penalty Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Antisocial Personality Disorder Automatism Battered Woman Syndrome Capacity to Consent to Treatment Instrument (CCTI) Capacity to Waive Miranda Rights Capacity to Waive Rights Checklist for Competency for Execution Evaluations Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory Child Custody Evaluations Child Maltreatment Child Sexual Abuse Civil Commitment Classification of Violence Risk (COVR) Competence Assessment for Standing Trial for Defendants With Mental Retardation (CAST*MR) Competency Foundational and Decisional Competency Restoration Competency Assessment Instrument (CAI) Competency for Execution Competency Screening Test (CST) Competency to Be Sentenced Competency to Confess Competency to Stand Trial Competency to Waive Appeals Competency to Waive Counsel (Proceed Pro Se) Conduct Disorder Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) Consent to Clinical Research Criminal Responsibility Assessment Criminal Responsibility, Defenses and Standards Danger Assessment Instrument (DA) Delusions Diminished Capacity Assessment of Disability and Workers’ Compensation Claims Disparate Treatment and Disparate Impact Evaluations Dissociative Identity Disorder Divorce and Child Custody Domestic Violence Screening Instrument (DVSI) Ethical Guidelines and Principles Ethnic Differences in Psychopathy Evaluation of Competence to Stand Trial–Revised (ECST–R) Extreme Emotional Disturbance Financial Capacity Financial Capacity Instrument (FCI) Fitness-for-Duty Evaluations Fitness Interview Test–Revised (FIT–R) Forensic Assessment Georgia Court Competence Test (GCCT) Grisso’s Instruments for Assessing Understanding and Appreciation of Miranda Rights Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scales Guilty but Mentally Ill Verdict Hallucinations Hare Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (2nd edition) (PCL–R) Hare Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV) Hare Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV) HCR–20 for Violence Risk Assessment Hopkins Competency Assessment Test (HCAT) Insanity Defense Reform Act (IDRA) Interdisciplinary Fitness Interview (IFI) Jail Screening Assessment Tool (JSAT) Litigation Stress MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Criminal Adjudication (MacCAT–CA) MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCAT–T) MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study Malingering Probability Scale Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument–Version 2 (MAYSI–2) Mens Rea and Actus Reus Mental Illness and the Death Penalty Mental Retardation and the Death Penalty Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Assessment Miller Forensic Assessment of Symptoms Test (M–FAST) Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory–III (MCMI–III) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 (MMPI–2) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 (MMPI–2) Validity Scales Minnesota Sex Offender Screening Tool–Revised (MnSOST–R) M’Naghten Standard Mood Disorders Novaco Anger Scale Parens Patriae Doctrine Parent-Child Relationship Inventory (PCRI) Parenting Satisfaction Scale (PSS) Parenting Stress Index (PSI) Pedophilia Personal Injury and Emotional Distress Personality Disorders Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Presentence Evaluations Psychological Autopsies Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles Psychopathic Personality Inventory (PPI) Psychopathy Psychopathy Treatment Psychotic Disorders Rapid Risk Assessment for Sexual Offense Recidivism (RRASOR) Return-to-Work Evaluations Risk Assessment Approaches Risk-Sophistication-Treatment Inventory (RSTI) Rogers Criminal Responsibility Assessment Scales (R–CRAS) Sex Offender Assessment Sex Offender Civil Commitment Sex Offender Needs Assessment Rating (SONAR) Sex Offender Recidivism Sex Offender Risk Appraisal Guide (SORAG) Sexual Harassment Sexual Violence Risk–20 (SVR–20) Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) Spousal Assault Risk Assessment (SARA) STABLE–2007 and ACUTE–2007 Instruments STATIC–99 and STATIC–2002 Instruments Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms (SIRS) Substance Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence Substance Use Disorder Suicide Assessment and Prevention in Prisons Suicide Assessment Manual for Inmates (SAMI) Testamentary Capacity Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) Uniform Child Custody Evaluation System (UCCES) Validity Indicator Profile (VIP) Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG) Violence Risk Assessment Waiver to Criminal Court

Juvenile Offenders Research Topics

Adjudicative Competence of Youth Capacity to Waive Miranda Rights Juvenile Offenders Juvenile Offenders Risk Factors Juvenile Psychopathy Juvenile Death Penalty Legal Socialization Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument–Version 2 (MAYSI–2) Mental Health Needs of Juvenile Offenders Risk-Sophistication-Treatment Inventory (RSTI) Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) Victim-Offender Mediation Waiver to Criminal Court

Mental Health Law Research Topics

Capacity to Consent to Treatment Civil Commitment Consent to Clinical Research End-of-Life Issues Forcible Medication Guardianship Institutionalization and Deinstitutionalization Mandated Community Treatment Mental Health Courts Mental Health Law Mental Health Needs of Juvenile Offenders Involuntary Outpatient Commitment Patient’s Rights Proxy Decision Making Psychiatric Advance Directives Substance Abuse Treatment Therapeutic Jurisprudence

Psychological Assessment Instruments Research Topics

Ackerman-Schoendorf Parent Evaluation of Custody Test (ASPECT) Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) Capacity to Consent to Treatment Instrument (CCTI) Checklist for Competency for Execution Evaluations Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory Classification of Violence Risk (COVR) Competency Assessment Instrument (CAI) Competency Screening Test (CST) Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) Danger Assessment Instrument (DA) Domestic Violence Screening Instrument (DVSI) Evaluation of Competence to Stand Trial–Revised (ECST–R) Financial Capacity Instrument (FCI) Fitness Interview Test–Revised (FIT–R) Georgia Court Competence Test (GCCT) Grisso’s Instruments for Assessing Understanding and Appreciation of Miranda Rights Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scales Hare Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (2nd edition) (PCL–R) Hare Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV) Hare Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV) HCR–20 for Violence Risk Assessment Hopkins Competency Assessment Test (HCAT) Interdisciplinary Fitness Interview (IFI) Jail Screening Assessment Tool (JSAT) MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Clinical Research (MacCAT–CR) MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Criminal Adjudication (MacCAT–CA) MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCat–T) Malingering Probability Scale Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument–Version 2 (MAYSI–2) Miller Forensic Assessment of Symptoms Test (M–FAST) Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory–III (MCMI–III) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 (MMPI–2) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 (MMPI–2) Validity Scales Minnesota Sex Offender Screening Tool–Revised (MnSOST–R) Novaco Anger Scale Parent-Child Relationship Inventory (PCRI) Parenting Satisfaction Scale (PSS) Parenting Stress Index (PSI) Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles Psychopathic Personality Inventory (PPI) Rapid Risk Assessment for Sexual Offense Recidivism (RRASOR) Risk-Sophistication-Treatment Inventory (RSTI) Rogers Criminal Responsibility Assessment Scales (R–CRAS) Sex Offender Needs Assessment Rating (SONAR) Sex Offender Risk Appraisal Guide (SORAG) Sexual Violence Risk–20 (SVR–20) Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) Spousal Assault Risk Assessment (SARA) STABLE–2007 and ACUTE–2007 Instruments STATIC–99 and STATIC–2002 Instruments Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms (SIRS) Suicide Assessment Manual for Inmates (SAMI) Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) Uniform Child Custody Evaluation System (UCCES) Validity Indicator Profile (VIP) Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG)

Psychology of Crime Research Topics

AMBER Alert System Battered Woman Syndrome Battered Woman Syndrome, Testimony on Bias Crimes Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory Child Maltreatment Child Sexual Abuse Classification of Violence Risk (COVR) Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) Criminal Behavior, Theories of Criminal Responsibility, Assessment of Criminal Responsibility, Defenses and Standards Cybercrime Domestic Violence Screening Instrument (DVSI) Elder Abuse Elderly Defendants Homicide, Psychology of Intimate Partner Violence MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study Media Violence and Behavior Obscenity Pedophilia Pornography, Effects of Exposure to Psychological Autopsies Public Opinion About Crime Serial Killers Sex Offender Civil Commitment Sex Offender Community Notification (Megan’s Laws) Sex Offender Treatment Sex Offender Typologies Stalking Substance Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence Suicide by Cop Terrorism Therapeutic Communities for Treatment of Substance Abuse Treatment and Release of Insanity Acquittees Victim-Offender Mediation With Juvenile Offenders

Psychology of Policing Research Topics

Behavior Analysis Interview Competency to Confess Confession Evidence Crisis and Hostage Negotiation Critical Incidents Detection of Deception: Cognitive Load Detection of Deception: Event-Related Potentials Detection of Deception: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Detection of Deception: Nonverbal Cues Detection of Deception: Reality Monitoring Detection of Deception: Use of Evidence in Detection of Deception by Detection “Wizards” Detection of Deception in Adults Detection of Deception in Children Detection of Deception in High-Stakes Liars False Confessions Fitness-for-Duty Evaluations Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scales Interrogation of Suspects Police as Eyewitnesses Police Decision Making Police Decision Making and Domestic Violence Police Interaction With Mentally Ill Individuals Police Occupational Socialization Police Psychologists Police Psychology Police Selection Police Stress Police Training and Evaluation Police Use of Force Polygraph and Polygraph Techniques Profiling Public Opinion About the Polygraph Reid Technique for Interrogations Return-to-Work Evaluations Statement Validity Assessment (SVA) Suicide by Cop Videotaping Confessions

Sentencing and Incarceration Research Topics

Community Corrections Competency to Be Sentenced Conditional Release Programs Death Penalty Domestic Violence Courts Drug Courts Juvenile Boot Camps Parole Decisions Presentence Evaluations Prison Overcrowding Probation Decisions Public Opinion About Sentencing and Incarceration Sentencing Decisions Sentencing Diversion Programs Stanford Prison Experiment Substance Abuse Treatment Suicide Assessment and Prevention in Prisons Suicide Assessment Manual for Inmates (SAMI) Supermax Prisons Therapeutic Communities for Treatment of Substance Abuse Treatment and Release of Insanity Acquittees

Symptoms and Disorders Research Topics

Antisocial Personality Disorder Automatism Battered Woman Syndrome Child Maltreatment Child Sexual Abuse Conduct Disorder Delusions Dissociative Identity Disorder Hallucinations Malingering Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Assessment of Mood Disorders Pedophilia Personality Disorders Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Psychopathy Psychotic Disorders Substance Use Disorders

Trial Processes Research Topics

Aggravating and Mitigating Circumstances in Capital Trials, Effects on Jurors Alibi Witnesses Alternative Dispute Resolution Amicus Curiae Briefs Bail-Setting Decisions Battered Woman Syndrome, Testimony on Chicago Jury Project Children’s Testimony Children’s Testimony, Evaluation by Juries Complex Evidence in Litigation Confession Evidence CSI Effect Damage Awards Death Qualification of Juries Domestic Violence Courts Drug Courts “Dynamite Charge” Elderly Defendants Expert Psychological Testimony Expert Psychological Testimony, Admissibility Standards Expert Psychological Testimony, Forms of Expert Psychological Testimony on Eyewitness Identification Expert Testimony, Qualifications of Experts Fingerprint Evidence, Evaluation of Hearsay Testimony Inadmissible Evidence, Impact on Juries Insanity Defense, Juries and Judges’ Nonverbal Behavior Juries and Eyewitnesses Juries and Joined Trials Juries and Judges’ Instructions Jury Administration Reforms Jury Competence Jury Decisions Versus Judges’ Decisions Jury Deliberation Jury Nullification Jury Questionnaires Jury Reforms Jury Selection Jury Size and Decision Rule Jury Understanding of Judges’ Instructions in Capital Cases Legal Authoritarianism Legal Negotiation Legal Socialization Leniency Bias Litigation Stress Mental Health Courts Parole Decisions Plea Bargaining Pretrial Publicity, Impact on Juries Probation Decisions Procedural Justice Prosecutorial Misconduct Public Opinion About Crime Public Opinion About the Courts Public Opinion About the Polygraph Race, Impact on Juries Racial Bias and the Death Penalty Religion and the Death Penalty Scientific Jury Selection Sexual Harassment, Jury Evaluation of Statistical Information, Impact on Juries “Stealing Thunder” Story Model for Juror Decision Making Translated Testimony Trial Consulting U.S. Supreme Court Victim Impact Statements Voir Dire Witness Preparation Wrongful Conviction

Victim Reactions to Crime Research Topics

Battered Woman Syndrome Child Maltreatment Child Sexual Abuse Coping Strategies of Adult Sexual Assault Victims Danger Assessment Instrument (DA) Elder Abuse Intimate Partner Violence Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Rape Trauma Syndrome Reporting Crimes and Victimization Sexual Harassment Stalking Victimization Victim-Offender Mediation With Juvenile Offenders Victim Participation in the Criminal Justice System

Violence Risk Assessment Research Topics

Classification of Violence Risk (COVR) Danger Assessment Instrument (DA) Domestic Violence Screening Instrument (DVSI) Hare Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (2nd edition) (PCL–R) Hare Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV) Hare Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV) HCR–20 for Violence Risk Assessment Jail Screening Assessment Tool (JSAT) MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument–Version 2 (MAYSI–2) Minnesota Sex Offender Screening Tool–Revised (MnSOST–R) Novaco Anger Scale Psychopathic Personality Inventory (PPI) Psychopathy Psychopathy, Treatment of Rapid Risk Assessment for Sexual Offense Recidivism (RRASOR) Risk Assessment Approaches Sex Offender Assessment Sex Offender Civil Commitment Sex Offender Needs Assessment Rating (SONAR) Sex Offender Recidivism Sex Offender Risk Appraisal Guide (SORAG) Sexual Violence Risk–20 (SVR–20) Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) Spousal Assault Risk Assessment (SARA) STABLE–2007 and ACUTE–2007 Instruments STATIC–99 and STATIC–2002 Instruments Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) Substance Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence Substance Use Disorders Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG) Violence Risk Assessment

Psychology and law play a significant role in postgraduate education and professional development. Forensic psychology courses are increasingly common in undergraduate psychology programs, and many such offerings are filled to capacity with undergraduate students weaned on justice- and crime-themed media and literature. Attracted by the compelling application of psychology to real-world criminal investigations and trials, undergraduate students frequently volunteer as research assistants in forensic psychology laboratories. Master’s and doctoral programs focusing on various aspects of forensic psychology have been developed and provide the research and service industries with additional intellectual capital. Postdoctoral training and professional certification options in forensic psychology support the development of a profession that is uniquely qualified to address mental health issues in a wide variety of legal contexts.

Read more about Forensic Psychology:

• Forensic Psychology (Main article)
• Psychology and Law
• What is Forensic Psychology?
• History of Forensic Psychology
• Clinical Forensic Psychology
• Forensic Psychology Ethics
• Forensic Psychology Education

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30+ Forensic Psychology Dissertation Topics

Published by Owen Ingram at January 2nd, 2023 , Revised On May 3, 2024

As the field of forensic psychology is still relatively new, there are numerous research issues to address. if you want to write a strong paper on forensic psychology, first, you have to look for convincing and well-researched forensic psychology dissertation topics and choose one of them.

Here’s a list of some fascinating areas of study in forensic psychology and some forensic psychology dissertation topics for you:

Forensic Psychology Dissertation Topics & ideas

• How forensic psychologists influence decisions about child custody
• Adolescent Antisocial Behavior and Childhood Trauma
• The Consequences of Being a Juvenile Offender in the Future
• Interviewing Children as Eyewitnesses: Ethical Challenges
• Instances of Child Abuse, Mental Illness, and the Death Penalty: Forensic Psychology
• Schizophrenia and Criminal Behavior Are Associated
• Are criminal acts more likely to be committed by those with particular mental illnesses?
• How do forensic assessments alter when considering conjecture and bias?
• Can forensic psychologists anticipate potential danger in the future?
• What guidelines should psychologists adhere to when speaking with criminals in court?
• Explain why the testimony of a mentally ill eyewitness is credible
• How trustworthy and legitimate is an eyewitness’ memory?
• What standards of conduct should forensic psychologists adhere to when testifying in court?
• Discuss how a person’s upbringing can prevent them from becoming a serial killer
• Define internet policing and discuss some effective tactics for it
• What part do video games, movies, and the internet play in encouraging criminal copycats?
• Explain why domestic violence against men is often overlooked by society
• What causes mass murder, and why is it so common in the United States?
• Are there enough safeguards in place to lessen the chances that students in special education may wind up in jail or prison?
• What effects does a job in law enforcement have on a person’s personal life?
• Murders of minors: List the elements that affect regions with high child murders
• Are the criminal justice system and prisons effective at rehabilitation?
• Describe the elements that led to the formation of domestic terrorism
• The rise in vulnerability has made more domestic terrorists appear
• The efficiency of rehabilitation within the criminal justice system and in prisons
• What influences regions where there are more child killings by children? Juvenile murder
• Is enough being done to reduce the likelihood that special education students will end up in jail or prison?
• What leads to mass murders in the United States?
• Is domestic violence directed against men being overlooked by society?
• The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Criminal Behavior
• The Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Programs in Reducing Recidivism Rates
• A Forensic Perspective on the Relationship Between Mental Illness and Criminality
• The Role of Forensic Psychology in Investigating and Prosecuting Cybercrimes
• Understanding the Psychological Profiles of Serial Killers: Case Studies and Analysis
• Investigating the Influence of Media on Jury Decision Making in High-Profile Criminal Cases
• The Use of Forensic Psychology in Child Custody Evaluations and Family Court Proceedings
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Risk Assessment Tools in Predicting Future Violence
• Forensic Psychological Analysis of Hate Crimes
• The Role of Forensic Psychology in Investigating White-Collar Crimes and Corporate Misconduct
• Investigating the Role of Psychopathy in Violent and Nonviolent Offending Behaviors
• The Use of Forensic Psychology in Child Abuse Investigations and Legal Proceedings
• Psychological Factors Influencing Criminal Rehabilitation and Reintegration into Society
• Investigating the Relationship Between Mental Health Disorders and Fire Setting Behavior
• Forensic Assessment of Malingering and Exaggeration in Personal Injury Cases
• The Role of Forensic Psychology in Preventing and Responding to Domestic Violence
• Assessing the Impact of Pretrial Publicity on Juror Bias and Decision Making
• Investigating the Role of Forensic Psychology in Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Cases
• The Use of Forensic Psychology in Evaluating Witness Credibility and Reliability
• The Effectiveness of Sex Offender Treatment Programs in Reducing Recidivism
• The Use of Forensic Psychology in Identifying and Rehabilitating Psychopathic Offenders

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Further Subject-Related Topics: Business Psychology Dissertation Topics , Cognitive Psychology Topics , Development Psychology Dissertation Topics

Your ability to conduct in-depth research may limit the subject matter you can explore in a forensic psychology dissertation. Having a qualified writer assist you as you complete your dissertation can alleviate some stress. Hopefully, these forensic psychology dissertation topics will help you with the dissertation writing process .

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• Explore crime and psychology intersections.
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• Investigate offender behaviors.
• Consider ethical dilemmas.
• Choose a niche that captivates your interest.

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Forensic Psychology Research Paper Topics

This page provides a comprehensive list of forensic psychology research paper topics , offering a deep dive into the intersection of psychology and the legal system. Forensic psychology is a crucial field that applies psychological principles to legal issues, enhancing our understanding of everything from criminal behavior to courtroom dynamics. These topics explore areas such as criminal profiling, the reliability of eyewitness testimony, and the ethical challenges faced by forensic psychologists. By engaging with these topics, students and researchers can contribute to a more informed legal system and develop strategies for addressing complex psychological issues within the framework of the law. This resource is designed to inspire robust academic inquiry and real-world application, providing the tools needed to address key questions in forensic psychology and improve the effectiveness of the justice system.

100 Forensic Psychology Research Paper Topics

Forensic psychology is a dynamic field that melds psychological expertise with legal acumen, offering unique insights into both criminal behavior and the broader legal system. As such, the selection of impactful forensic psychology research paper topics is crucial for students and professionals aiming to contribute to public safety, justice, and the effective rehabilitation of offenders. This page provides a comprehensive list of topics that not only cover the breadth of forensic psychology but also delve into specific areas that challenge and advance the current understanding and practices within the field.

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• The accuracy of criminal profiling techniques
• Psychological profiles of notorious criminals
• Comparative analysis of profiling methods across different countries
• Profiling and its effectiveness in solving cold cases
• The role of profiling in sexual offense cases
• Ethical considerations in criminal profiling
• The impact of media on criminal profiling practices
• Profiling in terrorism cases: Challenges and insights
• The evolution of criminal profiling over the decades
• Limitations of profiling in law enforcement
• Stress management for law enforcement officers
• Psychological tactics used in police interrogations
• The impact of police culture on individual behavior and attitudes
• Psychological assessments for law enforcement recruitment
• The effect of body-worn cameras on police behavior
• Mental health issues in law enforcement careers
• Crisis negotiation strategies and their psychological bases
• The role of psychological training in law enforcement
• Behavioral analysis of police shootings
• Police-community relations from a psychological perspective
• Reliability of eyewitness testimony in criminal trials
• The effects of stress on the accuracy of eyewitness accounts
• Techniques to improve the retrieval of memories by eyewitnesses
• Children as eyewitnesses: Challenges and reliability
• Psychological factors influencing eyewitness confidence
• Misinformation effects and the post-identification feedback effect
• The role of race and ethnicity in eyewitness identification
• Eyewitness memory and the implications for wrongful convictions
• Facial recognition technology and eyewitness testimony
• Training programs to enhance eyewitness evidence
• Psychological influences on jury behavior and decision-making
• The impact of pretrial publicity on juror impartiality
• Gender and age factors in jury decisions
• The role of emotion in jury verdicts
• Jury consultation and the psychology behind jury selection
• Deliberation dynamics: How juries reach a verdict
• The effect of expert witness testimony on jury decisions
• Simulated jury studies: What they tell us about real jury behavior
• Cognitive biases in jury deliberations
• Virtual reality as a tool for understanding jury behavior
• Psychological assessments used in child custody disputes
• The effects of divorce on children: An age-wise analysis
• Parental alienation syndrome: Psychological impacts and legal implications
• The role of forensic psychologists in family law cases
• Assessing parent-child interactions in custody evaluations
• The influence of domestic violence on child custody decisions
• Legal and psychological perspectives on child adoption
• Therapeutic jurisprudence and its application in family law
• Guardianship and competency issues in juvenile law
• Psychological interventions for families involved in custody disputes
• The prevalence of mental disorders among incarcerated individuals
• Legal and psychological approaches to the insanity defense
• Treatment and management of mental illness in prisons
• Risk assessment of violent behavior among psychiatric patients
• The intersection of drug abuse and mental health in criminal behavior
• Psychological strategies for managing sex offenders
• The impact of solitary confinement on mental health
• Rehabilitation approaches for mentally ill offenders
• Ethical issues in the treatment of mentally ill criminals
• Mental health courts and their effectiveness in handling offenders with psychopathology
• Evidence-based psychological interventions for offender rehabilitation
• The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in reducing recidivism
• Rehabilitation programs for juvenile offenders
• The role of education in the rehabilitation of prisoners
• Challenges and outcomes of rehabilitation programs in high-security prisons
• Restorative justice: Psychological principles and practices
• The impact of parole and probation on offender rehabilitation
• Psychological support for re-entering offenders
• Addiction treatment programs in the criminal justice system
• Evaluating the long-term success of offender rehabilitation programs
• Techniques in psychological assessment of criminal defendants
• Competency to stand trial: Psychological evaluation and legal standards
• Assessing the risk of future violence: Tools and techniques
• Psychological evaluations in death penalty cases
• The use of polygraph tests in forensic settings
• Fitness for duty evaluations for law enforcement personnel
• The role of neuropsychological testing in forensic cases
• The assessment of malingering in forensic contexts
• Ethical dilemmas in forensic psychological assessments
• Cross-cultural considerations in forensic evaluations
• Psychological impacts of crime on victims
• The role of victim support services in the criminal justice system
• Secondary victimization: Psychological and legal aspects
• Coping mechanisms of victims of violent crimes
• The treatment and recovery process for victims of sexual crimes
• Psychological profiling of vulnerable victims
• Victim-offender mediation programs: Efficacy and psychological effects
• The role of victims in the criminal justice process
• Long-term psychological effects of being a crime victim
• Victim rights and their enforcement: A psychological perspective
• Dual relationships and conflicts of interest in forensic psychology
• Confidentiality issues in the treatment of forensic populations
• Ethical challenges in research with offender populations
• Consent and competency in forensic psychological assessments
• The use of deception in psychological research of forensic interest
• Handling ethical dilemmas in forensic assessments
• Ethical guidelines for forensic psychologists
• The role of ethics in psychological expert witness testimony
• Balancing clinical and forensic roles: Ethical and practical challenges
• Ethical considerations in juvenile forensic psychology

The range of forensic psychology research paper topics is vast and diverse, reflecting the complex interactions between psychology and the legal system. Students engaged in forensic psychology can greatly contribute to advancing the field by exploring these topics, which are crucial for developing more effective and humane approaches to justice. As they embark on this academic pursuit, students have the opportunity to not only enhance their own understanding and skills but also to make meaningful contributions that can lead to significant societal benefits.

The Range of Forensic Psychology Research Paper Topics

Criminal Profiling and Behavioral Analysis

Forensic psychology significantly contributes to criminal profiling and behavioral analysis, which are vital in solving crimes and apprehending offenders. Criminal profiling involves creating a psychological and behavioral portrait of offenders based on clues from crime scenes and victim reports. This process often requires a deep understanding of psychological theories and human behavior patterns. The accuracy of criminal profiling can vary, and while it has been instrumental in solving numerous high-profile cases, it also faces scrutiny over its scientific validity and ethical implications.

Several case studies, such as the work on the BTK killer or the Unabomber, showcase the practical applications of profiling in solving complex crimes. These cases demonstrate how detailed behavioral analysis can guide law enforcement in narrowing down suspects and solving crimes more efficiently. However, the field of criminal profiling is not without its controversies. Critics argue that profiling sometimes relies too heavily on stereotypes and lacks a robust empirical foundation, leading to potential biases and misidentifications. A critical analysis of these techniques reveals a complex interplay between theory-driven predictions and evidence-based conclusions, underscoring the need for ongoing research and methodological refinement in forensic psychology.

Role of Psychologists in Legal Proceedings

Forensic psychologists play a multifaceted role in legal proceedings, influencing outcomes through activities such as providing expert witness testimony, assisting with jury selection, and offering insights into the mental state of defendants. The preparation of forensic psychologists to stand as expert witnesses involves thorough assessments and a deep understanding of both psychological principles and legal standards. Their testimony can profoundly impact trial outcomes, particularly in cases involving mental health defenses or assessments of competency to stand trial.

The involvement of forensic psychologists in jury selection, also known as voir dire, allows them to apply psychological principles to help attorneys select jurors who may be more sympathetic to their arguments or more impartial, depending on the case’s needs. This role is critical in ensuring a fair trial by creating a jury that can objectively interpret evidence and testimony. The analysis of these interactions highlights the delicate balance psychologists must maintain between their professional obligations and the strategic goals of legal teams, showcasing the integral role they play in bridging the gap between law and psychology.

Ethics and Challenges in Forensic Psychology

Ethical dilemmas are rampant in forensic psychology due to the sensitive nature of the work and the significant consequences of psychological assessments and testimonies. Forensic psychologists must navigate complex ethical waters, including issues of confidentiality, consent, and potential conflicts of interest. Maintaining objectivity is paramount, as any bias can significantly alter the lives of individuals involved and the justice system’s integrity.

Exploring the challenges forensic psychologists face, such as pressures from legal entities to deliver favorable outcomes or dealing with uncooperative or manipulative subjects, provides insight into the robust ethical framework required in this field. Numerous case studies illustrate how forensic psychologists handle these ethical challenges, offering lessons and guidelines for upholding integrity and objectivity in forensic assessments. These cases highlight the importance of continuous ethical training and strict adherence to professional guidelines to mitigate the risks associated with forensic psychological practice.

The exploration of forensic psychology research paper topics offers invaluable insights into the complex interaction between psychology and the legal system. This article has highlighted the significant impact of forensic psychology on criminal profiling, legal proceedings, and ethical practices within the justice system. By continuing to advance research in these areas, forensic psychology can further influence legal outcomes and contribute to the development of a more just and effective criminal justice system. The potential of these research topics to shape future legal and psychological practices is immense, underscoring the importance of this fascinating intersection of disciplines.

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Psychology Research Guide

Forensic psychology.

According to the American Board of Forensic Psychology This link opens in a new window (ABFP), "Forensic Psychology is the application of the science and profession of psychology to questions and issues relating to law and the legal system. The word “forensic” comes from the Latin word 'forensis,' meaning 'of the forum,' where the law courts of ancient Rome were held. Today forensic refers to the application of scientific principles and practices to the adversary process where scientists with specialized knowledge play a role." Areas of forensic psychology include criminal justice, correctional psychology, forensic evaluation, expert testimony, eyewitness testimony, competence to testify, and other legal applications of psychology.

• What is Forensic Psychology? This link opens in a new window
• Forensic Psychology - Sage Video This link opens in a new window
• Forensic Psychology Research Topics This link opens in a new window List of forensic psychology topics with links to overviews for each. Includes criminal competencies, criminal responsibility, death penalty, eyewitness memory, forensic assessment, juvenile offenders, etc.

Forensic Psychology Databases

Research in forensic psychology utilizes psychology databases as well as resources in Criminal Justice, Justice Studies, Law, and Sociology. You may find it helpful to search the following databases for your forensic psychology topics or research questions, in addition to the core Psychology resources listed on the home page of this guide.

• HeinOnline Legal Databases This link opens in a new window Core collection of current and historical law and law-related periodicals, classic books and reports. Includes government and political documents, such as World Constitutions, US Congressional Documents, the Federal Register and much more. Includes the HeinOnline Slavery in America and the World Collection (found within the UNC Press Law collection).

Forensic Psychology Subject Headings

You may find it helpful to take advantage of predefined subjects or subject headings in Shapiro Databases. These subjects are applied to articles and books by expert catalogers to help you find materials on your topic.

• Learn more about Subject Searching

Consider using databases to perform subject searches, or incorporating words from applicable subjects into your keyword searches. Here are some forensic psychology subjects to consider:

• correctional psychology
• criminal behavior
• expert testimony
• eyewitness testimony
• forensic assessment
• forensic evaluation
• institutionalization
• psychological autopsy

Forensic Psychology Organization Websites

• American Academy of Forensic Psychology This link opens in a new window A non-profit organization of board certified forensic psychologists whose mission is to contribute to the development and maintenance of forensic psychology as a specialized field of study, research and practice by providing continuing education workshops, a forum for the exchange of scientific information among its members, and conferring awards upon outstanding students and practitioners in the field of forensic psychology.
• American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (AAPL) This link opens in a new window American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. AAPL (pronounced "apple") is an organization of psychiatrists dedicated to excellence in practice, teaching, and research in forensic psychiatry. Founded in 1969, AAPL currently has over 2,000 members in North America and around the world.
• American Board of Forensic Psychology This link opens in a new window As in many professions, Specialty Board Certification in Forensic Psychology signifies that an individual has met the established standards for the profession as maintained and protected by an organization that the field recognizes for that role. The organization entrusted with that role regarding board certification in Forensic Psychology is the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), which attests that the certified professional possesses a high level of professional competence in the specialty area.
• UVA Institute of Law, Psychiatry, & Public Policy This link opens in a new window The Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy at the University of Virginia is an interdisciplinary program in mental health law, forensic psychiatry, forensic psychology, forensic neuropsychology and forensic social work. Institute activities include academic programs, forensic clinical evaluations, professional training, empirical and theoretical research, and public policy consultation and review.
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Journal of Criminal Psychology

• Submit your paper
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Before you start

For queries relating to the status of your paper pre decision, please contact the Editor or Journal Editorial Office. For queries post acceptance, please contact the Supplier Project Manager. These details can be found in the Editorial Team section.

Author responsibilities

Our goal is to provide you with a professional and courteous experience at each stage of the review and publication process. There are also some responsibilities that sit with you as the author. Our expectation is that you will:

• Respond swiftly to any queries during the publication process.
• Be accountable for all aspects of your work. This includes investigating and resolving any questions about accuracy or research integrity .
• Treat communications between you and the journal editor as confidential until an editorial decision has been made.
• Include anyone who has made a substantial and meaningful contribution to the submission (anyone else involved in the paper should be listed in the acknowledgements).
• Exclude anyone who hasn’t contributed to the paper, or who has chosen not to be associated with the research.
• In accordance with COPE’s position statement on AI tools , Large Language Models cannot be credited with authorship as they are incapable of conceptualising a research design without human direction and cannot be accountable for the integrity, originality, and validity of the published work. The author(s) must describe the content created or modified as well as appropriately cite the name and version of the AI tool used; any additional works drawn on by the AI tool should also be appropriately cited and referenced. Standard tools that are used to improve spelling and grammar are not included within the parameters of this guidance. The Editor and Publisher reserve the right to determine whether the use of an AI tool is permissible.
• If your article involves human participants, you must ensure you have considered whether or not you require ethical approval for your research, and include this information as part of your submission. Find out more about informed consent .

Generative AI usage key principles

• Copywriting any part of an article using a generative AI tool/LLM would not be permissible, including the generation of the abstract or the literature review, for as per Emerald’s authorship criteria, the author(s) must be responsible for the work and accountable for its accuracy, integrity, and validity.
• The generation or reporting of results using a generative AI tool/LLM is not permissible, for as per Emerald’s authorship criteria, the author(s) must be responsible for the creation and interpretation of their work and accountable for its accuracy, integrity, and validity.
• The in-text reporting of statistics using a generative AI tool/LLM is not permissible due to concerns over the authenticity, integrity, and validity of the data produced, although the use of such a tool to aid in the analysis of the work would be permissible.
• Copy-editing an article using a generative AI tool/LLM in order to improve its language and readability would be permissible as this mirrors standard tools already employed to improve spelling and grammar, and uses existing author-created material, rather than generating wholly new content, while the author(s) remains responsible for the original work.
• The submission and publication of images created by AI tools or large-scale generative models is not permitted.

Research and publishing ethics

Our editors and employees work hard to ensure the content we publish is ethically sound. To help us achieve that goal, we closely follow the advice laid out in the guidelines and flowcharts on the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) website .

We have also developed our research and publishing ethics guidelines . If you haven’t already read these, we urge you to do so – they will help you avoid the most common publishing ethics issues.

A few key points:

• Any manuscript you submit to this journal should be original. That means it should not have been published before in its current, or similar, form. Exceptions to this rule are outlined in our pre-print and conference paper policies .  If any substantial element of your paper has been previously published, you need to declare this to the journal editor upon submission. Please note, the journal editor may use  Crossref Similarity Check  to check on the originality of submissions received. This service compares submissions against a database of 49 million works from 800 scholarly publishers.
• Your work should not have been submitted elsewhere and should not be under consideration by any other publication.
• If you have a conflict of interest, you must declare it upon submission; this allows the editor to decide how they would like to proceed. Read about conflict of interest in our research and publishing ethics guidelines .
• By submitting your work to Emerald, you are guaranteeing that the work is not in infringement of any existing copyright.

Third party copyright permissions

Prior to article submission, you need to ensure you’ve applied for, and received, written permission to use any material in your manuscript that has been created by a third party. Please note, we are unable to publish any article that still has permissions pending. The rights we require are:

• Non-exclusive rights to reproduce the material in the article or book chapter.
• Print and electronic rights.
• Worldwide English-language rights.
• To use the material for the life of the work. That means there should be no time restrictions on its re-use e.g. a one-year licence.

We are a member of the International Association of Scientific, Technical, and Medical Publishers (STM) and participate in the STM permissions guidelines , a reciprocal free exchange of material with other STM publishers.  In some cases, this may mean that you don’t need permission to re-use content. If so, please highlight this at the submission stage.

Please take a few moments to read our guide to publishing permissions  to ensure you have met all the requirements, so that we can process your submission without delay.

Open access submissions and information

All our journals currently offer two open access (OA) publishing paths; gold open access and green open access.

If you would like to, or are required to, make the branded publisher PDF (also known as the version of record) freely available immediately upon publication, you can select the gold open access route once your paper is accepted. 

If you’ve chosen to publish gold open access, this is the point you will be asked to pay the APC (article processing charge) . This varies per journal and can be found on our APC price list or on the editorial system at the point of submission. Your article will be published with a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 user licence , which outlines how readers can reuse your work.

Alternatively, if you would like to, or are required to, publish open access but your funding doesn’t cover the cost of the APC, you can choose the green open access, or self-archiving, route. As soon as your article is published, you can make the author accepted manuscript (the version accepted for publication) openly available, free from payment and embargo periods.

You can find out more about our open access routes, our APCs and waivers and read our FAQs on our open research page. 

Find out about open

Transparency and Openness Promotion (TOP) Guidelines

We are a signatory of the Transparency and Openness Promotion (TOP) Guidelines , a framework that supports the reproducibility of research through the adoption of transparent research practices. That means we encourage you to:

• Cite and fully reference all data, program code, and other methods in your article.
• Include persistent identifiers, such as a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), in references for datasets and program codes. Persistent identifiers ensure future access to unique published digital objects, such as a piece of text or datasets. Persistent identifiers are assigned to datasets by digital archives, such as institutional repositories and partners in the Data Preservation Alliance for the Social Sciences (Data-PASS).
• Follow appropriate international and national procedures with respect to data protection, rights to privacy and other ethical considerations, whenever you cite data. For further guidance please refer to our  research and publishing ethics guidelines . For an example on how to cite datasets, please refer to the references section below.

Prepare your submission

Manuscript support services.

We are pleased to partner with Editage, a platform that connects you with relevant experts in language support, translation, editing, visuals, consulting, and more. After you’ve agreed a fee, they will work with you to enhance your manuscript and get it submission-ready.

This is an optional service for authors who feel they need a little extra support. It does not guarantee your work will be accepted for review or publication.

Visit Editage

Manuscript requirements

Before you submit your manuscript, it’s important you read and follow the guidelines below. You will also find some useful tips in our structure your journal submission how-to guide.

Submit your manuscript

There are a number of key steps you should follow to ensure a smooth and trouble-free submission.

Double check your manuscript

Before submitting your work, it is your responsibility to check that the manuscript is complete, grammatically correct, and without spelling or typographical errors. A few other important points:

• Give the journal aims and scope a final read. Is your manuscript definitely a good fit? If it isn’t, the editor may decline it without peer review.
• Does your manuscript comply with our research and publishing ethics guidelines ?
• Have you cleared any necessary publishing permissions ?
• Have you followed all the formatting requirements laid out in these author guidelines?
• If you need to refer to your own work, use wording such as ‘previous research has demonstrated’ not ‘our previous research has demonstrated’.
• If you need to refer to your own, currently unpublished work, don’t include this work in the reference list.
• Any acknowledgments or author biographies should be uploaded as separate files.
• Carry out a final check to ensure that no author names appear anywhere in the manuscript. This includes in figures or captions.

You will find a helpful submission checklist on the website Think.Check.Submit .

The submission process

All manuscripts should be submitted through our editorial system by the corresponding author.

The only way to submit to the journal is through the journal’s ScholarOne site as accessed via the Emerald website, and not by email or through any third-party agent/company, journal representative, or website. Submissions should be done directly by the author(s) through the ScholarOne site and not via a third-party proxy on their behalf.

A separate author account is required for each journal you submit to. If this is your first time submitting to this journal, please choose the Create an account or Register now option in the editorial system. If you already have an Emerald login, you are welcome to reuse the existing username and password here.

Please note, the next time you log into the system, you will be asked for your username. This will be the email address you entered when you set up your account.

Don't forget to add your  ORCiD ID during the submission process. It will be embedded in your published article, along with a link to the ORCiD registry allowing others to easily match you with your work.

Don’t have one yet? It only takes a few moments to register for a free ORCiD identifier .

Visit the ScholarOne support centre  for further help and guidance.

What you can expect next

You will receive an automated email from the journal editor, confirming your successful submission. It will provide you with a manuscript number, which will be used in all future correspondence about your submission. If you have any reason to suspect the confirmation email you receive might be fraudulent, please contact the journal editor in the first instance.

Post submission

Review and decision process.

Each submission is checked by the editor. At this stage, they may choose to decline or unsubmit your manuscript if it doesn’t fit the journal aims and scope, or they feel the language/manuscript quality is too low.

If they think it might be suitable for the publication, they will send it to at least two independent referees for double anonymous peer review.  Once these reviewers have provided their feedback, the editor may decide to accept your manuscript, request minor or major revisions, or decline your work.

While all journals work to different timescales, the goal is that the editor will inform you of their first decision within 60 days.

During this period, we will send you automated updates on the progress of your manuscript via our submission system, or you can log in to check on the current status of your paper.  Each time we contact you, we will quote the manuscript number you were given at the point of submission. If you receive an email that does not match these criteria, it could be fraudulent and we recommend you contact the journal editor in the first instance.

Manuscript transfer service

Emerald’s manuscript transfer service takes the pain out of the submission process if your manuscript doesn’t fit your initial journal choice. Our team of expert Editors from participating journals work together to identify alternative journals that better align with your research, ensuring your work finds the ideal publication home it deserves. Our dedicated team is committed to supporting authors like you in finding the right home for your research.

If a journal is participating in the manuscript transfer program, the Editor has the option to recommend your paper for transfer. If a transfer decision is made by the Editor, you will receive an email with the details of the recommended journal and the option to accept or reject the transfer. It’s always down to you as the author to decide if you’d like to accept. If you do accept, your paper and any reviewer reports will automatically be transferred to the recommended journals. Authors will then confirm resubmissions in the new journal’s ScholarOne system.

Our Manuscript Transfer Service page has more information on the process.

If your submission is accepted

Open access.

Once your paper is accepted, you will have the opportunity to indicate whether you would like to publish your paper via the gold open access route.

If you’ve chosen to publish gold open access, this is the point you will be asked to pay the APC (article processing charge).  This varies per journal and can be found on our APC price list or on the editorial system at the point of submission. Your article will be published with a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 user licence , which outlines how readers can reuse your work.

For UK journal article authors - if you wish to submit your work accepted by Emerald to REF 2021, you must make a ‘closed deposit’ of your accepted manuscript to your respective institutional repository upon acceptance of your article. Articles accepted for publication after 1st April 2018 should be deposited as soon as possible, but no later than three months after the acceptance date. For further information and guidance, please refer to the REF 2021 website.

All accepted authors are sent an email with a link to a licence form.  This should be checked for accuracy, for example whether contact and affiliation details are up to date and your name is spelled correctly, and then returned to us electronically. If there is a reason why you can’t assign copyright to us, you should discuss this with your journal content editor. You will find their contact details on the editorial team section above.

Proofing and typesetting

Once we have received your completed licence form, the article will pass directly into the production process. We will carry out editorial checks, copyediting, and typesetting and then return proofs to you (if you are the corresponding author) for your review. This is your opportunity to correct any typographical errors, grammatical errors or incorrect author details. We can’t accept requests to rewrite texts at this stage.

When the page proofs are finalised, the fully typeset and proofed version of record is published online. This is referred to as the EarlyCite version. While an EarlyCite article has yet to be assigned to a volume or issue, it does have a digital object identifier (DOI) and is fully citable. It will be compiled into an issue according to the journal’s issue schedule, with papers being added by chronological date of publication.

How to share your paper

Visit our author rights page  to find out how you can reuse and share your work.

To find tips on increasing the visibility of your published paper, read about  how to promote your work .

Correcting inaccuracies in your published paper

Sometimes errors are made during the research, writing and publishing processes. When these issues arise, we have the option of withdrawing the paper or introducing a correction notice. Find out more about our  article withdrawal and correction policies .

Need to make a change to the author list? See our frequently asked questions (FAQs) below.

Frequently asked questions

Editor-in-Chief

• Dr Dominic Willmott Loughborough University - UK [email protected]

Associate Editors

• Mrs Georgia Barnett His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service - UK
• Dr Agata Debowska SWPS University - Poland [email protected]
• Dr Kirk Luther Carleton University - Canada [email protected]
• Dr Dara Mojtahedi University of Bolton - UK [email protected]

Systematic Review Editor

• Dr. Lara Hudspith University of British Columbia - Canada [email protected]

Social Media Editor

• Dr. Samantha Walkden Leeds Trinity University - UK [email protected]

Assistant Editor

• Eleanor Li Loughborough University - UK

Founding Editor

• Professor Daniel Boduszek SWPS University - Poland

Commissioning Editor

• Catherine McAteer (Emerald) Emerald Publishing - UK [email protected]

Journal Editorial Office (For queries related to pre-acceptance)

• Lavanya Darvesh Emerald Publishing [email protected]

Supplier Project Manager (For queries related to post-acceptance)

• Zaiba Firoz Emerald Publishing [email protected]

Editorial Advisory Board

• Professor Rui Abrunhosa Gonçalves University of Minho - Portugal
• Professor Clare Allely University of Salford - UK
• Mr Rob Allen Crown Prosecution Service - UK
• Professor Eric Beauregard Simon Fraser University - Canada
• Professor Nicholas Blagden University of Derby - UK
• Professor Douglas Boer University of Canberra - Australia
• Professor Gerd Bohner Bielefeld University - Germany
• Mr Frederik Braeckman Europol - The Netherlands
• Dr. Amy Burrell University of Birmingham - UK
• Dr Michelle Butler Queen's University Belfast - UK
• Professor Laura Caulfield University of Wolverhampton - UK
• Dr Heng Choon (Oliver) Chan University of Birmingham - UK
• Chief Constable Sarah Crew National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) - UK
• Dr. Lee Curley Open University - UK
• Professor Coral Dando University of Westminster - UK
• Professor Matt DeLisi Iowa State University - USA
• Professor Sibnath Deb Pondicherry University - India
• Dr Nadine Deslauriers-Varin Université Laval - Canada
• Professor David Farrington University of Cambridge - UK
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Calls for papers

Contemporary developments in investigative interviewing.

Submit your paper here! Introduction The special issue of the Journal of Criminal Psychology, titled Contemporary Developments in Investigative...

Contemporary Developments in the Retrieval and Evaluation of Witness Testimony: Towards making research more applicable to investigations.

Submit your paper here! Introduction Research into the retrieval and evaluation of memory for witnessed events offer valuable insight for impro...

Contemporary Developments in Understanding Desistance among Individuals who have Sexually Offended

Submit your paper here! Introduction This issue aims to bring together the most up-to-date thinking and research into people who desist from se...

Journal of Criminal Psychology - Call for papers

About the journal The Journal of Criminal Psychology (JCP) is both multi-agency and multidisciplinary and publishes both scholarly and practitioner-based research on all aspects of the psychology of criminal behaviour. The journal’s co...

Virtual Issue: Psychopathy in Crime and Justice

Dr Dominic Willmott (Editor-in-Chief) - Loughborough University, UK Within Legal, Forensic and Criminological Psychology priorities vary and evolve over time. Certain crime types become less central to mainstream researc...

Virtual Special Issue: Gender-based Violence

Dr Dominic Willmott (Editor-in-Chief) - Loughborough University, UK Whilst there is a growing awareness of global prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV), recorded (and unrecorded) crime figures for re...

Thank you to the 2022 Reviewers of Journal of Criminal Psychology

The publishing and editorial teams would like to thank the following, for their invaluable service as 2022 reviewers for this journal. We are very grateful for the contributions made. With their help, the journal has been able to publish such high...

Emerald Best Student Poster Award (PhD) 2022

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Thank you to the 2021 Reviewers of Journal of Criminal Psychology

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Literati awards

Journal of Criminal Psychology - Literati Award Winners 2022 

We are pleased to announce our 2022 Literati Award winners. Outstanding Paper COVID-19 and domestic violence...

Journal of Criminal Psychology - Literati Award Winners 2021

We are pleased to announce our 2021 Literati Award winners. Outstanding Paper Peer groups, street gangs and ...

Journal of Criminal Psychology - Literati Award Winners 2020

We are to pleased to announce our 2020 Literati Award winners. Outstanding Paper Overkill, we know it when we see it: examining defi...

International and multidisciplinary, the Journal of Criminal Psychology publishes both scholarly and practitioner-based research on all aspects of the psychology of criminal behaviour.

Aims and scope

The Journal of Criminal Psychology (JCP) is both multi-agency and multidisciplinary and publishes both scholarly and practitioner-based research on all aspects of the psychology of criminal behaviour. The journal’s content is of relevance internationally to academics, the police, social workers, youth offending and youth justice teams, prison workers and other professionals representing various facets of the criminal justice system.

The journal encourages submissions from academics, researchers, and practitioners. The journal publishes papers based on quantitative and/or qualitative research design. Original conceptual papers and brief research reports will also be considered for publication. Papers published in JCP are double blind peer-reviewed.

The coverage of the journal includes, but is not limited to:

• Predictors of delinquent and criminal behaviour
• Classification of offenders
• Risk assessment and risk management
• Prevention, intervention, and treatment programmes
• Offender and offense characteristics
• Interrogation and witness testimony
• Criminal thinking style and criminal identity
• Process of prisonization
• Recidivism.

Latest articles

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Actions speak: personality, nonverbal behaviors, and self-perceptions of vulnerability in college-aged women

Are legal experts better decision makers than jurors a psychological evaluation of the role of juries in the 21st century, perceptions of the freezing response of male and female rape victims, and the moderating role of rape myth beliefs, top downloaded articles.

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These are the top cited articles for this journal, from the last 12 months according to Crossref (Last updated: May 2024 )

Juror decision-making within domestic sex trafficking cases: do pre-trial attitudes, gender, culture and right-wing authoritarianism predict believability assessments?

Gender biases in legal decision-making: an exploration of judicial and public perceptions across multiple offences, female perpetrators of child sexual abuse in the united states.

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IResearchNet

Forensic Psychology Topics

Forensic psychology is a multifaceted field that bridges the gap between psychology and the legal system, playing a vital role in understanding and addressing a wide range of issues within the criminal justice system. This article provides a comprehensive overview of various topics within forensic psychology and emphasizes their significance in the realm of psychology and law.

Forensic psychology, as a field of study, is relatively in its infancy. It encompasses a wide spectrum of psychological approaches, with each major subdivision of psychology making significant contributions to the understanding of legal issues. These subdivisions include cognitive psychology, which explores topics like eyewitness testimony; developmental psychology, which focuses on areas such as children’s testimony; social psychology, delving into jury behavior; clinical psychology, dealing with competence assessment; biological psychology, involving techniques like polygraph testing; and industrial-organizational psychology, which addresses issues like workplace sexual harassment.

Researchers from universities, research institutions, and various government agencies across different continents have played pivotal roles in advancing empirical knowledge within the realm of forensic psychology. Despite its relative youth, the field is displaying distinct signs of maturation. These signs encompass the presence of scientific journals exclusively dedicated to forensic psychology research, the publication of research findings in prestigious psychology journals, the establishment of professional associations dedicated to forensic psychology in various countries including the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia, annual professional conferences, and an extensive body of literature comprising hundreds of books on diverse forensic psychology topics.

Forensic Psychology Research Topics

• Criminal Behavior Topics
• Criminal Responsibility Topics
• Death Penalty Topics
• Divorce and Child Custody Topics
• Eyewitness Memory Topics
• Forensic Assessment Topics
• Juvenile Offenders Topics
• Mental Health Law Topics
• Police Psychology Topics
• Sentencing and Incarceration Topics
• Trial Consulting Topics
• Victimization Topics
• Violence Risk Assessment Topics

Importance of Various Topics within Forensic Psychology

The importance of forensic psychology topics cannot be overstated, as they hold significant relevance in legal proceedings, policy development, and the overall pursuit of justice. These topics span a wide spectrum, including but not limited to eyewitness testimony, mental health evaluations, offender profiling, forensic assessment, and the psychology of jury decision-making. Each of these areas plays a crucial role in helping legal professionals make informed decisions, ensuring fair trials, and addressing issues related to mental health and criminal behavior.

Purpose and Structure of the Article

The primary purpose of this article is to provide an in-depth exploration of various topics within forensic psychology. By delving into each of these topics, we aim to shed light on their importance, applications, and implications for both the legal system and the field of psychology. Throughout this article, we will draw on research and insights from experts in the field, utilizing a range of authoritative sources to support our discussions.

In the following sections, we will explore key topics within forensic psychology, beginning with eyewitness testimony, followed by mental health evaluations, offender profiling, forensic assessment, and the psychology of jury decision-making. Each section will delve into the specifics of these topics, addressing their relevance, challenges, and contributions to the broader field. Additionally, we will examine the ethical considerations that underlie forensic psychology practice and the future directions of the field, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of this dynamic and evolving discipline.

Criminal Behavior and Profiling

A. definition of criminal profiling.

Criminal profiling, often referred to as behavioral profiling or criminal investigative analysis, is a specialized technique within forensic psychology that aims to create a psychological and behavioral profile of an unknown criminal offender. This profile is based on the analysis of crime scene evidence, victimology, and the modus operandi of the perpetrator. The primary goal of criminal profiling is to assist law enforcement agencies in narrowing down their search for suspects by providing insights into the likely characteristics, motivations, and behaviors of the offender.

B. Psychological Factors Contributing to Criminal Behavior

Understanding the psychological factors that contribute to criminal behavior is a fundamental aspect of criminal profiling. Forensic psychologists delve into various aspects of an offender’s psychology to uncover potential motives, triggers, and patterns. These factors may include but are not limited to:

• Personality Traits: Profilers examine an offender’s personality traits, looking for indicators of psychopathy, narcissism, or other personality disorders that may influence criminal behavior.
• Motive Analysis: Identifying the underlying motives behind a crime is essential. Profilers explore whether crimes are driven by financial gain, power, revenge, or other motives.
• Victimology: Analyzing the characteristics of victims can provide insights into an offender’s preferences and tendencies. Profilers consider factors such as age, gender, and relationships with the victims.
• Behavioral Patterns: Profilers study the offender’s modus operandi, signature behaviors, and patterns of offending, helping law enforcement predict future actions.

C. Role of Forensic Psychologists in Criminal Profiling

Forensic psychologists play a critical role in criminal profiling by applying their expertise in psychology to assist law enforcement agencies. Their responsibilities may include:

• Crime Scene Analysis: Forensic psychologists analyze crime scenes, evidence, and victimology to develop a preliminary profile of the offender.
• Consultation: They collaborate with law enforcement officers and detectives to provide insights into the likely characteristics of the offender, potential motives, and suggested investigative strategies.
• Interview and Interrogation: Profilers may assist in crafting interview techniques tailored to the psychological profile of the offender, helping detectives obtain valuable information.
• Expert Testimony: In some cases, forensic psychologists with expertise in criminal profiling may testify as expert witnesses in court to explain their findings and assist in legal proceedings.

D. Case Studies Illustrating the Application of Profiling

To illustrate the practical application of criminal profiling, this section will present select case studies where profiling played a crucial role in criminal investigations. These case studies will highlight instances where forensic psychologists helped law enforcement agencies apprehend offenders, providing valuable insights into their behaviors and motives. Through these real-world examples, readers will gain a deeper understanding of how criminal profiling contributes to solving complex criminal cases.

Eyewitness Testimony and Memory

A. factors affecting eyewitness accuracy.

Eyewitness testimony is a critical component of criminal trials, but it is susceptible to various factors that can affect its accuracy. Forensic psychologists study these factors, which may include:

• Stress and Anxiety: High-stress situations can impair an eyewitness’s ability to accurately recall details of a crime.
• Weapon Focus: The presence of a weapon during a crime can lead witnesses to focus on the weapon rather than the perpetrator’s face.
• Cross-Racial Identification: Witnesses may have difficulty accurately identifying individuals of a different racial or ethnic background, leading to errors in identification.
• Misinformation Effect: Exposure to misleading information after a crime can distort an eyewitness’s memory of the event.

B. The Role of Memory in Eyewitness Testimony

Memory plays a central role in eyewitness testimony. Forensic psychologists explore how memory functions and how it can be influenced by various factors:

• Encoding and Retrieval: Understanding how memories are encoded at the time of the event and retrieved during testimony is essential for evaluating eyewitness reliability.
• Memory Decay: Memories can fade or change over time, affecting the accuracy of eyewitness accounts.
• Suggestibility: Eyewitnesses can be influenced by leading questions, suggestive interview techniques, or exposure to misinformation.

C. Techniques for Enhancing Eyewitness Reliability

Forensic psychology research has led to the development of techniques aimed at improving the reliability of eyewitness testimony, including:

• Cognitive Interviewing: This method, based on memory research, helps interviewers elicit more accurate and detailed information from witnesses.
• Lineup Procedures: Implementing double-blind and sequential lineup procedures can reduce the risk of false identifications.
• Expert Testimony: Forensic psychologists may provide expert testimony in court to educate judges and juries about the fallibility of eyewitness memory and factors that affect it.

D. The Impact of Cross-Racial Identification on Cases

Cross-racial identification, where witnesses of one racial or ethnic group attempt to identify individuals of another group, has been a topic of significant research within forensic psychology. This section will examine the challenges associated with cross-racial identification and its impact on the reliability of eyewitness testimony. Case studies and empirical findings will be presented to illustrate how misidentifications based on race have influenced legal outcomes.

Competency and Insanity

A. definitions of competency and insanity.

Competency and insanity are legal concepts that intersect with forensic psychology. This section will provide clear definitions of these terms:

• Competency: Competency refers to an individual’s ability to understand legal proceedings, assist in their defense, and make rational decisions. Forensic psychologists assess an individual’s competency to stand trial.
• Insanity: The insanity defense involves asserting that a defendant, at the time of the crime, was unable to understand the wrongfulness of their actions due to severe mental illness or disorder.

B. Assessment Methods for Determining Competency

Forensic psychologists employ various assessment methods to determine an individual’s competency to stand trial. These methods may include structured interviews, psychological evaluations, and competency measures. The section will outline these assessment techniques and their role in legal proceedings.

C. The Insanity Defense and Its Implications

The insanity defense is a complex and controversial legal strategy. This section will explore the history and development of the insanity defense, the legal standards for its application, and the implications for defendants found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI).

D. Controversies and Challenges in this Area

Competency and insanity evaluations pose unique challenges for forensic psychologists and the legal system. This section will examine controversies surrounding these evaluations, such as the potential for malingering, the ethics of psychological assessments in legal cases, and the consequences of verdicts of NGRI. Real-world case examples and ethical considerations will be discussed to provide a comprehensive overview of this area within forensic psychology.

Police Psychology

A. psychological assessment of police candidates.

Police psychology involves the assessment of candidates seeking careers in law enforcement. This section will delve into the psychological evaluation process for police candidates, including the use of personality assessments, interviews, and fitness-for-duty evaluations. The role of forensic psychologists in ensuring that candidates possess the necessary psychological attributes for police work will be explored.

B. Stressors and Mental Health Challenges for Law Enforcement

Working in law enforcement can be highly stressful and emotionally taxing. Forensic psychologists study the stressors and mental health challenges faced by police officers, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and suicide risk. Strategies for supporting the mental well-being of law enforcement personnel will be discussed.

C. Crisis Intervention and Police Response

Forensic psychologists often collaborate with law enforcement agencies to develop crisis intervention strategies. This section will explore the role of psychologists in training police officers to respond effectively to crisis situations involving individuals with mental illness, substance use disorders, or other psychological issues.

D. Ethics and Biases in Policing

Ethical considerations and biases in policing are crucial topics in contemporary forensic psychology. The section will address ethical dilemmas encountered by police psychologists, such as confidentiality and conflicts of interest. Additionally, it will explore biases in law enforcement, including racial profiling, and the role of psychologists in promoting unbiased policing practices.

Child Custody and Family Law

A. the role of forensic psychologists in custody evaluations.

Forensic psychologists often play a pivotal role in child custody evaluations during family law disputes. This section will outline the responsibilities of forensic psychologists in assessing parental fitness and making recommendations to courts regarding custody arrangements.

B. Factors Considered in Child Custody Decisions

Child custody decisions involve a careful examination of various factors that influence the child’s best interests. This section will explore the criteria used in custody determinations, including the child’s age, parental involvement, and the child’s emotional and psychological well-being.

C. Parental Alienation and Its Impact

Parental alienation is a contentious issue in child custody cases. Forensic psychologists study the phenomenon and its potential impact on children. This section will discuss the signs of parental alienation, assessment methods, and interventions to address it.

D. Legal and Ethical Issues in Family Law Cases

Forensic psychologists working in family law face complex legal and ethical considerations. This section will examine ethical guidelines for custody evaluators, confidentiality issues, and challenges related to providing expert testimony in emotionally charged family court proceedings.

Violence Risk Assessment

A. predicting violent behavior and risk factors.

Violence risk assessment is a critical area within forensic psychology. This section will explore the methods and risk factors forensic psychologists consider when assessing the potential for violent behavior, including the use of actuarial instruments and clinical judgment.

B. Tools and Methodologies Used in Risk Assessment

Forensic psychologists employ various tools and methodologies to assess violence risk. This section will provide an overview of commonly used risk assessment instruments and their strengths and limitations.

C. Ethical Dilemmas in Violence Risk Assessment

The practice of violence risk assessment raises ethical dilemmas related to privacy, confidentiality, and public safety. This section will discuss the ethical considerations and challenges forensic psychologists encounter when conducting these assessments.

D. Case Examples of Violence Risk Assessment in Practice

Real-life case examples will illustrate the application of violence risk assessment in different contexts, such as evaluating the risk of domestic violence, workplace violence, or sexual offending.

Expert Witness Testimony

A. the role of forensic psychologists as expert witnesses.

Forensic psychologists frequently serve as expert witnesses in legal proceedings. This section will explore their role in providing specialized knowledge, opinions, and testimony to assist the court in understanding complex psychological issues.

B. Qualifications and Standards for Expert Testimony

Forensic psychologists must meet specific qualifications and adhere to professional standards when offering expert testimony. This section will outline the criteria for being qualified as an expert witness and the ethical guidelines governing their testimony.

C. Challenges and Limitations in Expert Witness Testimony

Expert witness testimony is not without challenges and limitations. This section will examine the potential pitfalls, biases, and ethical dilemmas forensic psychologists may encounter when providing expert testimony.

D. Notable Cases Involving Expert Witness Testimony

This section will highlight notable legal cases where forensic psychologists played a pivotal role as expert witnesses, demonstrating the impact of their testimony on legal outcomes and precedent-setting decisions.

Ethical and Legal Issues in Forensic Psychology

A. ethical guidelines and principles for forensic psychologists.

Forensic psychologists operate within a framework of ethical guidelines and principles. This section will discuss the fundamental ethical considerations that govern their practice, including competence, informed consent, and confidentiality.

B. Legal Responsibilities and Constraints

Forensic psychologists must navigate legal responsibilities and constraints when conducting assessments, providing treatment, and offering expert testimony. This section will explore the legal parameters within which they operate, including issues related to privilege and duty to report.

Forensic psychology encompasses various professional practices within the field of psychology and law. Clinical psychologists specializing in forensic work offer assessment and treatment services across a broad spectrum of criminal and civil cases, as well as within law enforcement settings. Social psychologists apply their expertise in forensic psychology by serving as trial consultants, aiding attorneys in tasks like jury selection and trial preparation. Clinical and experimental psychologists often act as expert witnesses in both criminal and civil trials. These are just a few illustrations of how psychology intersects with the legal domain. Practitioners draw upon the tools and knowledge derived from traditional psychological disciplines as well as the specialized area of forensic psychology.

The integration of psychology and law plays a significant role in postgraduate education and professional development. Forensic psychology courses are increasingly prevalent in undergraduate psychology programs, attracting students who have been captivated by portrayals of justice and crime in media and literature. Many undergraduates, driven by the compelling application of psychology to real-world criminal investigations and legal proceedings, eagerly volunteer as research assistants in forensic psychology labs. Furthermore, there has been a proliferation of master’s and doctoral programs that concentrate on various facets of forensic psychology, contributing additional intellectual resources to the research and service sectors. Postdoctoral training and professional certification options in forensic psychology bolster the growth of a profession uniquely equipped to address mental health concerns within a wide array of legal contexts.

Ultimate Guide: 100+ Forensic Psychology Research Topics for Students

Forensic psychology blends psychology with the legal system, focusing on understanding human behavior in crime and legal matters. It’s crucial for uncovering why crimes happen, how victims are affected, and improving how justice is served.

Forensic psychology research topics are essential for understanding complex human behaviors and their legal implications. They help law enforcement, courts, and policymakers make fairer and more effective decisions.

This article explores best research topics like criminal profiling, eyewitness testimony, risk assessment, and evaluating offenders’ mental states. 

We also discuss how forensic psychologists contribute to legal processes, such as competency evaluations and sentencing recommendations, while managing ethical challenges.

What Are Forensic Psychology Research Topics?

Table of Contents

Forensic psychology research focuses on studying how psychology relates to the legal system. 

They explore things like understanding criminal behavior, helping in legal cases, and ensuring fair justice. 

These topics include criminal profiling, how witnesses remember events, and how juries decide cases. 

Overall, research in forensic psychology aims to improve how we handle crime and justice using psychological insights.

Importance of Choosing The Best Forensic Psychology Topics

Choosing the best forensic psychology topics is crucial because it:

• Helps you focus on important issues in the field.
• Keeps you motivated to study and learn.
• Contributes new knowledge to understanding crime and justice.
• It can improve how law and psychology work together.
• Boosts your academic and career path in this field.

Steps For Choosing Forensic Psychology Research Topics

Choosing forensic psychology research topics involves these steps:

• Find Your Interests : Decide what parts of forensic psychology you find interesting, like criminal behavior or how courts work.
• Check Existing Research : Look at what others have studied to find gaps or new ideas.
• Pick Relevant Topics : Choose something that matters now in forensic psychology.
• Talk to Experts : Ask professors or professionals for advice on good topics.
• Focus Your Topic : Make your topic specific so it’s easier to research.
• Ask Questions : Figure out what you want to find out with your research.
• Plan How to Study : Decide how you’ll gather and analyze information.
• Think About Feasibility : Make sure your topic is doable with the time and resources you have.
• Get Advice : Get feedback on your topic and research plan from others.
• Decide Your Topic : When you’ve thought about these steps, choose your topic and plan how to study it.

List of 100+ Forensic Psychology Research Topics for Students

Following are the great forensic psychology research topics for students:

Forensic Psychology Research Topics for College Students

• How does forensic psychology help understand criminal behavior?
• What are effective methods for criminal profiling?
• How does eyewitness testimony influence court cases?
• Can forensic psychology predict recidivism?
• How does forensic psychology assist in legal proceedings?

Best Forensic Psychology Research Topics for High School

• What are the psychological effects of wrongful convictions?
• How does stress affect memory in forensic contexts?
• Can forensic psychology help in understanding juvenile delinquency?
• What role does forensic psychology play in crime prevention?
• How does media portrayal influence perceptions of forensic psychology?

Excellent Forensic Psychology Research Topics for Middle School

• How does forensic psychology contribute to solving crimes?
• What are the ethical issues in forensic psychological research?
• How does trauma affect witness reliability?
• Can forensic psychology improve mental health in prisons?
• What are the benefits of forensic psychology in court?

Great Forensic Psychology Research Topics for PhD Students

• What are the neurological bases of criminal behavior?
• How effective are psychological interventions in rehabilitating offenders?
• What are the ethical challenges in forensic psychology?
• How does forensic psychology handle mental health in legal cases?
• Can forensic psychology improve police procedures?

Forensic Psychology Research Topics for Undergraduates

• How does forensic psychology contribute to victim advocacy?
• What are the impacts of forensic psychological assessments?
• How can forensic psychology assist in jury decision-making?
• What are the challenges in forensic evaluations in child custody cases?
• How does forensic psychology address issues of competency in legal settings?

Forensic Psychology Research Papers

• How does forensic psychology impact public policy on crime?
• What are the psychological effects of incarceration?
• Can forensic psychology predict criminal motives?
• How does forensic psychology handle mental health in prisons?
• What role does forensic psychology play in understanding criminal gangs?

Criminal Psychology Research Topics

• How does criminal psychology differentiate between criminal and antisocial behavior?
• What are the psychological factors influencing criminal decision-making?
• How effective are psychological profiles in crime prevention?
• Can forensic psychology help in identifying serial offenders?
• How does forensic psychology contribute to understanding cybercrime?

Forensic Psychology Topics for Presentation

• How does forensic psychology assess witness credibility?
• What are the psychological impacts of forensic investigations?
• How does forensic psychology handle criminal profiling?
• Can forensic psychology detect signs of deception?
• What are the effects of courtroom dynamics on participants?

Interesting Forensic Psychology Topics for Essays

• How does forensic psychology influence sentencing decisions?
• What are the psychological effects of forensic evidence in court?
• How can forensic psychology assist in hostage negotiation?
• What are the ethical dilemmas in forensic psychology?
• How does forensic psychology handle mental health in criminal cases?

Cool Forensic Psychology Research Topics

• How does forensic psychology contribute to understanding terrorism?
• What are the psychological impacts of forensic investigations on victims?
• Can forensic psychology predict criminal behavior based on profiles?
• How does forensic psychology help in understanding organized crime?
• What are the psychological motivations behind arson?

Psychology and Law Research Topics

• How does forensic psychology contribute to legal decision-making?
• What are the ethical issues in using psychological evidence in court?
• How does forensic psychology handle mental competency?
• Can forensic psychology help resolve legal disputes?

Forensic Psychology Research Proposal Ideas

• How can forensic psychology improve witness identification?
• What are the psychological factors influencing false confessions?
• How does forensic psychology assess expert witness reliability?
• Can forensic psychology predict criminal behavior through digital footprints?
• How does forensic psychology contribute to criminal profiling techniques?

Fun Forensic Psychology Research Topics

• What are the psychological motivations behind criminal behavior?
• How does forensic psychology handle psychopathic traits?
• Can forensic psychology predict cybercriminal behavior?
• How does forensic psychology address mental illness in criminal cases?
• What are the effects of long-term imprisonment?

Unique Forensic Psychology Topics for Essays

• How does forensic psychology assess witness credibility in child abuse cases?
• What are the psychological impacts of forensic evaluations on defendants?
• How does forensic psychology address juvenile rehabilitation?
• Can forensic psychology detect trauma signs in victims?
• How does forensic psychology contribute to understanding criminal conspiracies?

Hot Forensic Psychology Research Proposal Ideas

• How effective are forensic psychological interventions in preventing repeat offenses?
• What psychological factors influence jury bias?
• How does forensic psychology handle mental competency in elder abuse?
• Can forensic psychology predict criminal behavior through digital clues?
• What are the effects of police interrogation techniques on suspects?

Forensic Psychology Journals

• How does forensic psychology contribute to understanding criminal networks?
• What are the psychological effects of hate crimes?
• How can forensic psychology improve victim support?
• What are the ethical guidelines in forensic psychological research?
• How does forensic psychology contribute to forensic pathology?

News Articles Related to Forensic Psychology

• How has forensic psychology impacted recent court decisions?
• What are the latest advances in forensic psychological assessments?
• How does forensic psychology handle new cybercrime forms?
• Can forensic psychology help understand international criminal organizations?
• What are the psychological impacts of legal reforms on forensic psychology?

Psychology and Law Research Topics for College Students

• How does forensic psychology address racial bias in legal proceedings?
• How can forensic psychology help understand terrorism?
• Can forensic psychology identify psychological patterns in criminal behavior?
• How reliable is eyewitness testimony in forensic psychology?

Research Topics in Psychology for College Students

• What psychological factors influence criminal rehabilitation?
• How does forensic psychology handle mental illness in legal cases?
• Can forensic psychology predict repeat offenses?
• What ethical dilemmas arise in forensic psychological research with vulnerable groups?
• How does forensic psychology contribute to understanding human trafficking?

Quantitative Research Topics in Psychology for College Students

• How effective are psychological interventions in reducing criminal recidivism?
• What are the psychological factors influencing eyewitness memory accuracy?
• Can forensic psychology predict the outcomes of rehabilitation programs for offenders?
• How does forensic psychology handle mental health assessments in legal contexts?
• What role does forensic psychology play in understanding criminal sentencing disparities?

Clinical Psychology Research Topics

• How does clinical psychology contribute to understanding mental health in forensic settings?
• What are effective treatments for trauma-related disorders in victims of crime?
• Can clinical psychology improve psychological evaluations in court cases?
• How does clinical psychology address mental illness in incarcerated individuals?
• What ethical considerations arise in clinical psychological research with forensic populations?

Topical Categories in Forensic Psychology

Here are topical categories in forensic psychology simplified:

• Criminal Behavior : Understanding why people commit crimes.
• Victim Psychology : How crime affects individuals mentally and emotionally.
• Legal Procedures : How psychology interacts with the legal system.
• Rehabilitation : Helping criminals change their behavior.
• Forensic Assessment : Evaluating mental health in legal cases.
• Ethics : Ensuring research and practices are fair and responsible.
• Juvenile Justice : Psychology’s role in handling young offenders.
• Witness Testimony : How reliable witnesses are in court.
• Psychological Profiling : Creating profiles of criminal behavior.
• Mental Competency : Assessing if someone is mentally fit for trial.

Ethical Considerations in Forensic Psychology Research

Ethical considerations in forensic psychology research involve ensuring the following:

• Participants give informed consent.
• Privacy and confidentiality are protected.
• Participation is voluntary and free from coercion.
• Harm to participants is minimized.
• Deception, if used, is justified and minimized.
• Biases are acknowledged and addressed.
• Participants are treated with respect.
• Legal standards and regulations are followed.
• Research is conducted competently and honestly.
• Findings are reported truthfully and accurately.

What Are Some Research Topics For Forensic Psychology?

Here’s the following research topics for forensic psychology:

Research Methodologies in Forensic Psychology

Research methodologies in forensic psychology include:

• Experimental Studies : Controlled experiments to test hypotheses about behavior.
• Observational Research : Watching and recording behavior in natural settings.
• Case Studies : In-depth examination of specific individuals or cases.
• Survey Research : Questionnaires or interviews to gather data from participants.
• Meta-Analysis : Statistical analysis combining results from multiple studies.
• Qualitative Research : Exploring attitudes, beliefs, and experiences through interviews or focus groups.
• Longitudinal Studies : Tracking changes in behavior over time.
• Cross-Sectional Studies : Examining a sample at a single point in time.
• Content Analysis : Analyzing written or recorded material for patterns or themes.
• Mixed-Methods Research : Combining qualitative and quantitative approaches for a comprehensive understanding.

Final Words

Forensic psychology research topics explore how psychology and the legal system intersect. They help us understand why people commit crimes, how victims are affected, and how to improve legal processes and rehabilitation. Each topic, like studying criminal behavior or improving courtroom procedures, is crucial for making our justice system fairer and more effective.

Forensic psychologists aim to enhance crime investigations, support victims, and ensure legal decisions are based on solid evidence. Ethical guidelines are essential to protect everyone involved in research.

Forensic psychology research helps us prevent crime, support victims, and ensure fairness in our legal system. It’s vital for making our communities safer and understanding the complexities of crime and mental health.

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Criminal Psychology: Understanding Criminal Behaviour

• First Online: 02 October 2021

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• Sanjeev P. Sahni 3 &
• Nisha Phakey 3  

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Criminal psychology is a field involving an amalgamation of psychology, criminology, and the law. This discipline was conceived in the mid-twentieth century, when psychologists began offering expert perspectives on criminal behaviour and speculate about the possible causes that push one to commit such acts. This chapter will expound upon the purview of criminal psychology, how it emerged as a specialized field of study, and how it is different from related disciplines such as forensic psychology. Further, this chapter will cover the role and responsibilities of a criminal psychologist in criminal justice proceedings as a clinician, experimentalist, actuarial, and advisor in criminal proceedings. It will also briefly encapsulate the role played by a criminal psychologist in investigation, trial, conviction, and rehabilitation of convicts. Then, next section will deal with scope of this field realized by different institutions and individuals globally, and what are the applications of this discipline in different countries of the world and India.

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History of Forensic Psychology

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Sahni, S.P., Phakey, N. (2021). Criminal Psychology: Understanding Criminal Behaviour. In: Sahni, S.P., Bhadra, P. (eds) Criminal Psychology and the Criminal Justice System in India and Beyond. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4570-9_2

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Editorial: Crime, mental health, and the law: A psycho-criminological perspective

Broadly speaking, psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, while criminology is the scientific study of crime and criminal offenders. Psychological criminology (or simply as psycho-criminology), which combines the two, is generally concerned with the use of psychological knowledge and skills to explain, describe, and potentially prevent or deal with deviant and criminal behavior (Hollin, 2012 ; Chan and Ho, 2017 ; Chan and Sheridan, 2020 ; Chan and Adjorlolo, 2021 ; Chan and Wong, 2023 ). More specifically, psycho-criminology (an abbreviated term for “psychological criminology”) is the study of individual criminal behavior, with particular interest on how the behavior is learned, evoked, continued, and evolved as a result of personality, social, and/or environmental influences (Bartol, 2002 ). In the words of Wortley ( 2011 ), psychological criminology addresses the general question, “What is it about the individuals and their experiences that cause them to commit crime and/or to become criminal?” (p. 1).

In this Research Topic (RT), the focus lies on the application of psycho-criminological approaches and constructs to crime, criminal and civil law, and the influence of law on mental health and behavior. This RT aims to advance our understanding of psycho-criminological mechanisms (i.e., personal, social, and environmental influences) associated with different criminal behavior in the intersections of mental health and the law. The 10 articles included in this RT explore varied aspects of crime and criminal behavior through the application of psychological concepts and theories to increase our understanding of crime, delinquents and criminal offenders, and their behavior. The highlight of this RT is the range of contribution conducted with six sampling populations, namely Spanish, mainland Chinese, Hong Kongers, Americans, Germans, and Italians. Besides, the collection of these articles addresses the different aspects in the criminal justice system (e.g., youth, correctional, legal, and mental health) from a psycho-criminological standpoint.

This RT begins with an empirical study of testing a typology of Spanish homicides by Pecino-Latorre et al. . Using a sample of 448 homicides, this article examines the effectiveness and validity of the Action System model to distinguish thematically between the structure of the homicides and to generate a homicide typology in Spain based on the relationships between the modus operandi, and victim and offender characteristics. Four homicide typologies were identified: Expressive, Adaptive, Integrative, and Conservative. Next, Zhu and Shek investigate the effect of individual dimensions and the global positive youth development (PYD) measures on adolescent delinquency, individually; and the underlying mediating effect of life satisfaction. Employing a two-wave longitudinal data collected from 2,648 mainland Chinese adolescents, findings are found to be consistent with the general theoretical prediction of the PYD approach; in which different PYD attributes (cognitive-behavioral competence, prosocial attribute, positive identity, and general PYD attribute) are inversely related to concurrent and future adolescent delinquency. Moreover, the negative predictions are mediated by the adolescents' life satisfaction. Also recruiting mainland Chinese adolescents, Xiong et al. construct a moderated mediation model to test the mechanisms underlying the relationship between perceived discrimination and proactive and reactive aggression in a longitudinal data of 470 mainland Chinese migrant students (aged 11–17). They observed that perceived discrimination fosters negative emotions, which in turns increase reactive aggression. Furthermore, socioemotional support reduces the negative impact of perceived discrimination on reactive aggression by weakening the relationship between perceived discrimination and negative emotions.

In Hong Kong, Chan sampled 1,171 young adults (aged 18–40) to explore the psychosocial risk factors of risky sexual behavior (RSB) by testing the theoretical propositions of several criminological theories (the theories of self-control, general strain, social learning, social control, and routine activity). Relative to females, males possess significantly higher mean levels of general, penetrative, and non-penetrative RSB; and negative temperament, use of alcohol and other drugs, and paraphilic interests. Males and females are generally sharing a similar set of psychosocial risk factors (use of alcohol and other drugs, and paraphilic interests) for their involvement in general, penetrative, and non-penetrative RSB. Similarly exploring risky behaviors, Méndez et al. explore the different adaptation profiles (personal, school, and social) in adolescents based on their interpersonal risk factors on drug use. Analyzing 1,201 secondary school students (aged 11–18 years) in Spain, a latent class analysis generated three different types of adaptation: Maladjusted group, At-risk group, and Adjusted group.

Next, Acklin and Velasquez argue that Structured Professional Judgment (SPJ) methods can be a corrective approach for unstructured clinical judgment that prone to evaluator bias and suboptimal levels of inter-rater reliability. The authors propose a SPJ model for criminal responsibility evaluations translated from violence risk assessment methodology. Sampling 230 patients in 13 forensic psychiatric hospitals in Germany, Büsselmann et al. measure the patients' quality of life in forensic psychiatric hospital using the Measuring the Quality of Prison Life (MQPL) questionnaire. They found that the adapted MQPL questionnaire demonstrates good internal reliability and construct validity. The next article by Titze et al. examine the self-reported acculturation processes and associated individual and social factors in a similar sampling population of 235 forensic psychiatric patients with a migration background in 11 forensic hospitals in Germany. The findings indicate that the patients oriented themselves more toward the culture of admission and less toward the country of origin than the reference sample did.

In Italy, Rossetto et al. retrospectively compared 42 readmitted with 48 non-readmitted females in an Italian forensic psychiatric hospital through a minimum of 42 months follow-up (ranges from 3.5 to 10 years). Their findings indicate that readmitted females were positively associated with the presence of substance use disorders and a primary diagnosis on Axis II. The final article of this RT is authored by Brown et al. . They examine the fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) by proposing a renewed focus on applying and adapting the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) approach to individuals with FASD in criminal justice settings. The authors argue that the use of RNR approach can better determining the needs and interventions in reducing the propensity of offender recidivism.

With studies conducted in Spain, Mainland China, Hong Kong, the USA, Germany, and Italy, the 10 articles in this RT collectively demonstrate the importance of applying psycho-criminological knowledge and skills to better understand the underlying mechanism (i.e., personal, social, and environmental influences) associated with different criminal behavior in the intersections of mental health and the law. Having studies from different cultures and jurisdictions have clearly demonstrated that a combined etic-emic approach is arguably more appropriate when studying crime and criminal behavior, and developing culturally sensitive assessments and interventions (Ho and Cheung, 2007 ). 1 It is important to continue with more international research to advance our knowledge of research and best practice that have implications for further research, practice, and policy development/refinement in this emerging field of psycho-criminology.

Author contributions

The author confirms being the sole contributor of this work and has approved it for publication.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the authors for their contributions, my two co-editors (Dr. Samuel Adjorlolo and Dr. Lorraine Sheridan) for their support, and Frontiers in Psychology (Forensic and Legal Psychology Specialty Section) for providing the opportunity to solicit and publish these articles.

1 The etic approach proposes that theories and practices are universal and can be transferred to other cultures with little modification, while the emic approach assumes that behavior is culture-specific. The combined etic-emic approach suggests that elements (e.g., theoretical concepts and models) that appear to be universal can be initially identified and other emic elements (e.g., strategies and practices) can be developed based on specific cultural and population characteristics.

Conflict of interest

The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

• Bartol C. R. (2002). Criminal Behaviour: A Psychosocial Approach , 6th Edn. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. [ Google Scholar ]
• Chan H. C. O., Adjorlolo S. (2021). Crime, Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System in Africa: A Psycho-Criminological Perspective . Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. 10.1007/978-3-030-71024-8 [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Chan H. C. O., Ho S. M. Y. (2017). Psycho-Criminological Perspective of Criminal Justice in Asia: Research and Practices in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Beyond . Oxfordshire, UK: Routledge. [ Google Scholar ]
• Chan H. C. O., Sheridan L. (2020). Psycho-Criminological Approaches to Stalking Behavior: An International Perspective . West Sussex, UK: John Wiley and Sons. [ Google Scholar ]
• Chan H. C. O., Wong R. W. Y. (2023). Animal Abuse and Interpersonal Violence: A Psycho-Criminological Understanding . West Sussex, UK: John Wiley and Sons. [ Google Scholar ]
• Ho S. M. Y., Cheung M. W. L. (2007). “Using the combined etic-emic approach to develop a measurement of interpersonal subjective well-being in Chinese populations,” in Oxford Handbook of Methods in Positive Psychology , eds A. D. Ong and M. van Dulmen pp. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press; ), 139–152. [ Google Scholar ]
• Hollin C. R. (2012). “Criminological psychology,” in The Oxford Handbook of Criminology, 5th Edn. , eds M. Maguire, R. Morgan, and R. Reiner (New York, NY: Oxford University Press; ), 81–113. [ Google Scholar ]
• Wortley R. (2011). Psychological Criminology: An Integrative Approach . Oxon, UK: Routledge. 10.4324/9780203806098 [ CrossRef ] [ Google Scholar ]

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The criminal mind

On the outside, violent offenders come in all shapes, sizes, colors and ages. But on the inside, research finds that they may share some traits. Here’s a look at some of the biological risk factors psychologists and others have linked to violence — and the interventions they’re testing to reduce that risk.

February 2014, Vol 45, No. 2

Print version: page 39

On the outside, violent offenders come in all shapes, sizes, colors and ages. But on the inside, research finds that they may share some traits. Here's a look at some of the biological risk factors psychologists and others have linked to violence — and the interventions they're testing to reduce that risk.

Brain structure and function

The amygdala — a part of the brain involved in fear, aggression and social interactions — is implicated in crime. Among the research that points to this link is a neuroimaging study led by Dustin Pardini, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh. His team found that 26-year-old men with lower amygdala volumes were more than three times more likely to be aggressive, violent and to show psychopathic traits three years later than men of the same age with more normal-sized amygdalas — independent of factors including history of violence and social background ( Biological Psychiatry , 2013).

Other research, such as an fMRI study led by psychologist Andrea Glenn, PhD, of the University of Alabama, suggest that amygdala functioning — not just size — is also more likely to be reduced among those with psychopathic tendencies ( Molecular Psychiatry , 2009).

At least one study indicates that such deficits may appear long before people commit crimes. Adrian Raine, DPhil, of the department of criminology at the University of Pennsylvania, led a study with Yu Gao, PhD, at CUNY-Brooklyn that examined fear conditioning, which is dependent on amygdala function, in a group of 1,795 3-year-olds. The researchers put electrodes on the children's fingers while repeatedly playing two tones: one that was followed by a loud, unpleasant sound and another that was played alone. Subsequently, the difference in sweat responses to each tone by itself yielded a measure of each toddler's fear conditioning. Twenty years later, the team identified participants who had gone on to commit crimes and compared them with noncriminal counterparts, matching them on gender, ethnicity and social adversity. They found that those children who went on to commit crimes had "simply failed" to demonstrate fear conditioning, Raine says. In other words, they were fearless when most of us would be fearful. This finding suggests that deficits in the amygdala, which are indirectly identifiable as early as age 3, predispose to crime at age 23 ( The American Journal of Psychiatry , 2010).

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which plays a major role in behavior regulation and impulsivity, has also been linked to crime. Psychologist Kent Kiehl, PhD, and colleagues at the University of New Mexico used fMRI to look at the brains of nearly 100 adult male inmates while they completed a cognitive task involving inhibitory control. They found that prisoners with lower ACC activity were twice as likely to reoffend four years after they left prison than prisoners with higher ACC activity ( PNAS , 2013). While such studies need replication and extension, Raine says, they are "proof of the concept that there may be added value with bringing on board neurobiological information, including brain imaging information, for future prediction of violence."

Change brain to change behavior

If we know that certain brain characteristics may predispose some people to violence, what can we do about it? Intervene — and the earlier, the better, says Raine, author of "The Anatomy of Violence" (Random House, 2013).

In one intervention, for example, he and colleagues found that 3-year-olds who had been assigned to an enrichment program focused on nutrition, exercise and cognitive skills had better brain functioning at age 11 and a 34 percent reduction in criminal activity at age 23 when compared with a control group that did not receive the intervention ( American Journal of Psychiatry , 2003). Intervening even earlier, David Olds, PhD, of the University of Colorado, has found that pregnant low-income mothers who were visited regularly by home nurses who talked to them about health, education and parenting were less likely to have children who were arrested by age 15 ( Infant Mental Health Journal , 2006).

Even simple interventions may make a difference. In one preliminary study, prisoners assigned to a 10-week yoga class improved their impulse control ( Journal of Psychiatric Research , 2013). In an earlier randomized-controlled trial of British prisoners, those who received vitamin, mineral and essential fatty acid supplements committed an average of 26.3 percent fewer offenses than those who had received the placebo. They also showed a reduction in offenses of more than 35 percent, while the placebo-taking prisoners' records remained stable ( British Journal of Psychiatry , 2002). A study in the Netherlands replicated the effect, and now Raine is testing a similar intervention for children.

The bottom line, he says, is that "biology is not destiny. We can change the biological roots of crime and violence — there's no question about it."

—Anna Miller

Hear Dr. Adrian Raine's plenary address on this topic at APA's 2014 Annual Convention in Washington, D.C., Aug. 7–10.

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Best criminal psychology research questions

Home » Questions » Best criminal psychology research questions

Understanding the human mind is a complex task, but delving into the minds of criminals brings an entirely new set of challenges. Criminal psychology research aims to unravel the motivations, behaviors, and thought processes of individuals who engage in criminal activities. By studying these aspects, researchers can gain valuable insights into the factors that influence criminal behavior and develop effective strategies for prevention and intervention.

In order to conduct comprehensive research in criminal psychology, it is essential to ask the right questions. Research questions serve as a foundation for investigation, guiding researchers towards the most relevant and impactful areas of study. In this article, we will explore a range of criminal psychology research questions that can help shed light on this fascinating field.

Whether you are a student, researcher, or simply curious about the intricate workings of the human mind, these research questions provide a starting point for understanding criminal psychology from various angles. From the influences of childhood experiences to the impact of societal factors, these questions cover a wide array of topics that contribute to our understanding of criminal behavior.

See these Criminal Psychology Research Questions

• What role does childhood trauma play in the development of criminal behavior?
• How does the presence of mental health disorders contribute to criminal activity?
• What are the psychological factors that influence individuals to become serial killers?
• How does the media portrayal of criminals affect public perception?
• What are the psychological effects of imprisonment on inmates?
• What factors contribute to the rehabilitation of convicted offenders?
• How does the criminal justice system impact recidivism rates?
• What are the psychological motivations behind white-collar crimes?
• How does the presence of psychopathy affect criminal behavior?
• What is the relationship between substance abuse and criminal activity?
• How does the socioeconomic status of individuals influence their likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior?
• What are the psychological factors that contribute to juvenile delinquency?
• How does the presence of a supportive family structure affect the likelihood of criminal behavior?
• What are the psychological effects of witnessing or experiencing violence?
• How does the presence of a criminal record affect employment opportunities?
• What are the psychological factors that contribute to hate crimes?
• How does the use of social media influence criminal behavior?
• What are the psychological factors that contribute to organized crime?
• How does the presence of a strong social support network reduce the likelihood of criminal behavior?
• What are the psychological effects of solitary confinement?
• How does the presence of childhood neglect contribute to criminal behavior?
• What are the psychological factors that contribute to cybercrime?
• How does the presence of a dysfunctional family dynamic influence criminal behavior?
• What are the psychological effects of police interrogation techniques on suspects?
• How does the presence of personality disorders contribute to criminal activity?
• What are the psychological factors that contribute to sexual offenses?
• How does the presence of prejudice and discrimination influence hate crimes?
• What are the psychological effects of being a victim of crime?
• How does the presence of a criminal record affect housing opportunities?
• What are the psychological factors that contribute to domestic violence?
• How does the presence of a supportive community reduce the likelihood of criminal behavior?
• What are the psychological effects of witness testimony on jury decision-making?
• How does the presence of personality traits such as narcissism contribute to criminal activity?
• What are the psychological factors that contribute to gang involvement?
• How does the presence of childhood abuse contribute to criminal behavior?
• What are the psychological effects of incarceration on families?
• How does the presence of cognitive biases influence criminal decision-making?
• What are the psychological factors that contribute to arson?
• How does the presence of peer pressure influence criminal behavior?
• What are the psychological effects of being falsely accused of a crime?
• How does the presence of cognitive impairments contribute to criminal activity?
• What are the psychological factors that contribute to identity theft?
• How does the presence of societal inequality influence criminal behavior?

These criminal psychology research questions provide a glimpse into the diverse and multifaceted nature of this field. By exploring these questions and conducting thorough research, we can continue to expand our knowledge and develop effective strategies for understanding and addressing criminal behavior.

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