Understanding Forensic Psychology: What Is A Forensic Psychologist?

For many people, the concept of a forensic psychologist is akin to a criminal psychic—someone with the ability to offer law enforcement a detailed list of personality traits and behaviors of a suspect based on minimal information. This is largely in part to popular media depictions of the job, starting with the Will Graham character in the Hannibal Lecter franchise and appearing in many forms in a number of police procedural dramas since then. 

Needless to say, this depiction is not exactly an accurate one. So what is a forensic psychologist, and what kind of work do they do? Read on to explore the role of this type of professional in the criminal justice system, the history of the career, and the skills required for the job. 

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The history of forensic psychology

Within the wider field of psychology, forensic psychology is considered a newer specialty area. It was officially recognized by the APA in 2001, although its roots go back much further. Over the past 20 years in particular, forensic psychology programs have grown and expanded to encompass many different areas of criminal psychology, mental health, and the legal system. 

Here’s a brief timeline of the history of this profession:

• German physiologist Willhelm Wundt conducted early research on criminal psychology starting in the 1880s, which would be built on by other experts. 
• American psychology professor James McKeen Cattell studied under Wundt and then went on to research the psychology of legal testimony.
• French psychologist Alfred Binet expanded on Cattell’s research in the 1890s, uncovering more about psychology in connection with law and criminal justice. He also worked on intelligence testing, which was then incorporated into many assessment tools still used today.
• In 1915, German-American psychologist Hugo Münsterberg published On the Witness Stand: Essays on Psychology and Crime, which advocated for the use of psychology in legal matters.
• In 1916, American psychologist Lewis Terman began to apply psychology to law enforcement, creating the Stanford-Binet test to assess candidates for law enforcement jobs.
• In 1917, American psychologist William Marston discovered correlations between systolic blood pressure and lying, paving the way for the invention of polygraph detectors.
• In the 1940s and 50s, the legal system in the US began allowing expert testimony from psychologists, and these professionals began to play a bigger role in court cases.
• Since then, colleges around the country have created and expanded programs that allow for dual law and psychology degrees as well as specific forensic psychology programs. 

What does a forensic psychologist do?

Because forensic psychologists work within the criminal justice system, they need psychological training and expertise as well as a working knowledge of the law. As part of their job duties, a forensic psychologist may:

• Be used as an expert witness in court
• Complete threat assessments for school systems
• Do child custody evaluations for family court
• Offer counseling services to survivors of a crime
• Screen law enforcement applicants and/or assess employees in this field for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Complete competency evaluations or psychological assessments for criminal defendants
• Evaluate and treat both juvenile and adult offenders experiencing a mental illness

Forensic psychology is a broad field with a number of different environments and specialties in which a practitioner can work. Forensic psychologists may offer direct treatment, write reports, give testimony, or even determine mental competency in a “mens rea” case.  

Is a clinical psychologist the same as a forensic psychologist?

Forensic psychology is such a broad field that many people working within it are not even necessarily considered forensic psychologists. For example, clinical psychologists with a professional practice, neurologists, or school psychologists can get called in to offer expert testimony, analysis, or recommendations in legal proceedings. For instance, a school psychologist may be asked to give testimony for children whose parents are in a custody dispute, help prepare children who must give testimony in court, or evaluate children involved in suspected abuse situations. 

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Education and training required to become a forensic psychologist

Popular media portrayals of forensic psychology have created a strong interest in the field, resulting in growth in many national education and training programs. Earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology is usually the first step in a career like this. A forensic psychology degree specifically is still not widely available, but someone who is interested in this field may explore courses in:

• Human behavior
• Law
• Sociology
• Critical thinking skills
• Criminal psychology
• Criminal justice
• Abnormal behavior

PhD or PsyD for forensic psychologists

Some forensic psychology programs offer a master’s degree, but this may not provide the same variety of opportunities as a doctoral degree in the field would. Most forensic psychologists earn their PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology and then move forward with additional post-doctoral training and specialization in the field of forensic psychology. 

Because there are so many options available within professional psychology applied to forensics, aspiring forensic psychologists may want to decide early on where they intend to practice to help guide their education in the forensic psychology field. 

Seeking therapy for mental health support

If you’re feeling stressed about career decisions or because of your line of work, it might be beneficial to meet with a therapist. They can help you find healthy ways to reduce stress so you can address career-related challenges. If you don’t have many providers in your area or would prefer to meet with a professional from home, you might consider online therapy. 

With a platform like BetterHelp, you can get matched with a licensed therapist and meet with them via phone, video call, and/or in-app messaging from the comfort of home. Research suggests that online therapy can be an effective way to help individuals cope with stress and improve mental health overall.