How to Revise Forensic Psychology — AQA A-Level Psychology
Forensic psychology encompasses the application of psychological research and theory to legal and criminal contexts. It critically evaluates the methodologies used in offender profiling, such as the US Top-Down and UK Bottom-Up approaches, while investigating the multi-factorial origins of criminal behavior through biological, cognitive, and social lenses. Furthermore, it assesses the psychological implications of the penal system and the effectiveness of various rehabilitative strategies, including behavior modification and restorative justice, in reducing recidivism rates.
Key Marking Points
- Offender profiling: top-down approach (organised/disorganised types)
- Offender profiling: bottom-up approach (investigative psychology, geographical profiling)
- Biological explanations: atavistic form (historical approach)
- Biological explanations: genetics and neural explanations
- Psychological explanations: Eysenck’s theory of the criminal personality
- Psychological explanations: cognitive explanations (level of moral reasoning, cognitive distortions including hostile attribution bias and minimalisation)