Forensic Psychology vs Criminal Psychology

Criminal psychology, for the most part, is used in order to find out exactly what the reasons are that a criminal commits a crime. Criminal psychology and forensic psychology are two closely related fields, and both  play a very important role in the justice system. Despite the similarities, each discipline serves its own unique purpose.

The goal of forensic psychology is to determine whether or not the accused is mentally fit to stand trial. In some cases, a forensic psychologist may conclude that the defendant is not guilty by reason of insanity. In addition to working with criminals, they can also provide services to the victims.

Those who are the victim of a crime can experience many different psychological problems. These can include relatively mild concerns such as anxiety and depression, or they can manifest in more troublesome ways like post traumatic stress disorder. Forensic psychologists also examine offenders in order to determine if they are mentally fit enough to be reintroduced to society without the risk of committing another crime.

It focuses on their motivations. Forensic psychology looks at the other side of the equation. It studies the way in which a crime psychologically affects the victims. Forensic psychology also studies the mental state of the offender, with less emphasis placed on the motivations behind the crime.

Criminal psychologists spend the majority of time attempting to understand the thoughts that go on inside a criminal's mind. It is their goal to make predictions about the intentions of the criminal, as well as the way that he or she reacts to the crime. All of this information makes it possible for a criminal psychologist to build a criminal profile. 

This makes it possible for the people who are conducting the investigation to narrow down the parameters of their search. Using the information that is provided to them by a criminal profile, they can more easily identify a suspect. 

Those who are educated in the field of criminal psychology may also play a part in the court room. In some cases, they might be called in as a witness. During the trial, they can testify about the state of mind of the criminal. This information can be used by the jury in order to make a more informed decision regarding the guilt or innocence of the accused defendant.

If you want to learn more about forensic or criminal psychology, click here to get in touch with an Argosy University administration specialist!