ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of forensic psychology in its most literal form – direct application to the courts. Psychology contributes to and explores the judicial process before the trial, during it, and after. Typically, this is by providing expert testimony in a clinical, experimental, actuarial or advisory role. Social psychologists have studied the legal process through mock juries and surveys. These studies include how juries are influenced and the impact of external influences on aspects of the legal process. Psychologists usually submit reports in advance of giving evidence in court. Although the clinical role of the forensic psychologist has some obvious overlap with the work of forensic psychiatrists, the training of psychologists, grounded as it is in an understanding of human behaviour in general, does mean that they can go beyond issues of mental disorder, to discuss personality, social and inter personal functioning and cognitive abilities.
