Forensic Psychology

Dr. N. T. Alee
GITAM University
History of Forensic Psychology
Early Influences and Foundations (Late 19th Century):
➢ Wilhelm Wundt, often considered the father of experimental psychology, established the first psychology laboratory
in 1879 in Leipzig, Germany. His emphasis on the scientific study of human behavior laid the groundwork for later
forensic psychological research.
➢ William James, an American philosopher and psychologist, published "The Principles of Psychology" in 1890,
which contributed to the understanding of individual differences, perception, and consciousness.
Hugo Münsterberg and "On the Witness Stand" (Early 20th Century):
➢ Hugo Münsterberg, a German-American psychologist, published "On the Witness Stand" in 1908, a groundbreaking
work that applied psychological principles to legal issues. Münsterberg explored topics such as eyewitness
testimony, suggestibility, and the psychology of deception.
Psychometric Testing and Standardized Assessments (Early to Mid-20th Century):
➢ Alfred Binet's development of the Binet-Simon intelligence test in the early 20th century laid the foundation for
intelligence testing, which later became relevant to forensic assessments of mental competence.
➢ Lewis Terman's adaptation of the Binet-Simon scale into the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales in 1916 contributed
to the standardization of intelligence testing.
➢ Personality assessments, such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), developed in the mid-
20th century, became valuable tools for assessing personality traits and psychopathology in forensic contexts.
Landmark Legal Cases and Psychological Expertise (Mid to Late 20th Century):
➢ Landmark legal cases, including Brown v. Board of Education (1954) and Miranda v. Arizona (1966), highlighted
the role of psychological expertise in addressing issues related to racial discrimination, mental health, and the rights
of criminal suspects.
➢ These cases underscored the need for psychological research and expertise in informing legal decisions and shaping
public policy.
Emergence of Criminal Profiling (Late 20th Century):
➢ Criminal profiling gained prominence in the latter half of the 20th century, with pioneers such as John Douglas and
Robert Ressler using psychological insights to create offender profiles. Profiling techniques became valuable tools
for law enforcement agencies in investigating and apprehending serial offenders.
Professionalization and Accreditation (Late 20th Century to Present):
➢ The professionalization of forensic psychology led to the establishment of organizations such as the American
Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS) and the American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP). These organizations
set standards for training, certification, and ethical practice within the field.
➢ Forensic psychology graduate programs and specialized training opportunities have proliferated, providing aspiring
forensic psychologists with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective practice in legal and criminal justice
settings.
Expansion of Research and Practice (Present):
➢ In recent decades, forensic psychology has expanded its scope to encompass diverse areas such as juvenile justice,
correctional psychology, victim services, and the application of psychological principles to emerging legal issues
such as cybercrime and terrorism.
➢ Advances in technology and research methodologies continue to drive innovation in forensic psychology, shaping
the field's response to evolving challenges and opportunities in the 21st century.
History of forensic psychology in India
Forensic psychology in India has a relatively recent history compared to its development in Western countries. While
the field has been gaining recognition and importance in India, it is still in the process of establishing itself as a distinct
discipline within the broader context of psychology and law.
Early Influences and Beginnings (Pre-Independence):
➢ Prior to independence, India had limited formalized structures for the study and application of psychology within
legal contexts. However, certain aspects of psychology, such as mental health assessments and forensic evaluations,
were informally practiced by psychiatrists and psychologists.
Post-Independence Developments (1950s-1980s):
➢ Following independence in 1947, there was a gradual expansion of academic psychology in India, with an
increasing number of universities offering psychology courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
➢ During this period, the focus of psychology in India was primarily on clinical psychology, educational psychology,
and social psychology, with limited attention given to forensic psychology as a specialized area of study.
➢ One can trace the roots of Forensic Psychology back to 1968 when the first lie detection division was set up at the
Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Initially, there was an
absence of formal training centers for professionals to be formally trained in lie detection. References on how to run
lie detection tests were made from books and papers from the western culture (Reid and Inbau, 1966). Convincing
the Indian courts about the efficient jurisprudence of Forensic Psychology was based on trial and error of scientific
tools used.
➢ The first court-authorized narco-analysis was conducted in 1989 by Dr. S.L. Vaya. However, this was against the
consent of the person in question. She went onto assert that consent and court sanction were equally important
keeping the law and fundamental rights in mind. This test was also conducted mainly in prisons out of a kit, unlike
the facilities that professionals have today. Presently, narco analysis is conducted in a room which is a replica of an
operation theatre with the help and guidance of a team of professionals which include a Doctor, a nurse, and mental
health practitioner.
Emergence of Forensic Psychology (1990s-Present):
➢ In the 1990s and early 2000s, there was a growing recognition of the need for forensic psychology in India, driven
by factors such as increasing crime rates, changes in legal procedures, and a greater awareness of mental health
issues within the criminal justice system.
➢ Several academic institutions and research organizations began offering courses, workshops, and seminars on
forensic psychology, aimed at training psychologists and legal professionals in the application of psychological
principles to legal contexts.
➢ The establishment of forensic psychology units within psychiatric hospitals, universities, and research institutes
further contributed to the development of the field in India.
➢ In recent years, there has been a proliferation of research studies, publications, and conferences focusing on various
aspects of forensic psychology in India, including eyewitness testimony, criminal profiling, forensic assessment,
and victimology.
➢ Additionally, forensic psychology practitioners in India have been actively involved in providing expert testimony,
conducting forensic evaluations, and offering psychological interventions within the criminal justice system.
➢ In 2010 the supreme court of India ruled that tests such as Narco analysis, Lie detection and Brain Electrical
Oscillation Signature can be conducted with informed consent. Information discovered with the help of these
instruments can be admitted as evidence in the court of law.
➢ A grey field is observed on how the courts find scientific tools used by forensic Psychology laboratories are
invasive of an individual’s fundamental rights and on the other, they use the information extracted during the
procedures to help them with crime scene analysis.
Challenges and Opportunities:
➢ Despite the progress made, forensic psychology in India faces several challenges, including the need for
standardized training programs, accreditation mechanisms, and ethical guidelines specific to the field.
➢ There is also a need for greater collaboration between psychologists, legal professionals, law enforcement agencies,
and policymakers to address the complex issues at the intersection of psychology and law.
➢ However, there are significant opportunities for further development and growth of forensic psychology in India,
including the expansion of research initiatives, the establishment of specialized forensic psychology clinics, and the
integration of psychological principles into legal education and practice.
Thank you