BEHV 3021 Psychology, Crime and Law

This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit https://hbook.westernsydney.edu.au.

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 102399

Coordinator Kiley Seymour Opens in new window

Description This subject covers a broad spectrum of issues relevant to legal and forensic psychology. How accurate is a witness's memory? How good are we at identifying a suspect in a line-up? Why do people confess to crimes they never committed? What are good interviewing and interrogation techniques for understanding the truth? How accurate are repressed memories, and how are false memories implanted?

School Psychology

Discipline Behavioural Science

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

Check your HECS Band contribution amount via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 3 subject

Restrictions Students must be enrolled in one of the following programs: 1793 Bachelor of Science, Criminology and Psychological Studies, 1834 Bachelor of Psychology, 1711 Bachelor of Social Sciences (Psychology) or 1865 Bachelor of Psychology (Honours). For program 1793 Bachelor of Science, Criminology and Psychological Studies students must have successfully completed 140 credit points and 102223 Investigating Psychology B OR 140 credit points and 101183 Psychology: Behavioural Science and 100013 Experimental Design and Analysis before enrolling in this subject. For program 1834 Bachelor of Psychology, 1711 Bachelor of Social Sciences (Psychology) & 1865 Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) students must have successfully completed 101183 Psychology: Behavioral Science and 100013 Experimental Design and Analysis before enrolling in this subject.

Assumed Knowledge

Introductory knowledge of Psychology, statistics, and research methods.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
  1. Describe key concepts theories, studies, methods and debates within criminal and forensic Psychology;
  2. Analyse the theoretical issues in memory distortion;
  3. Summarise the theory and history of repressed memories;
  4. Outline the dangers of memory retrieval practices;
  5. Assess the politics of false memories and repression;
  6. Critique the impact of repressed and recovered memory theory on the legal system and in clinical practice;
  7. Identify the principles and theories of clinical forensic psychology.

Subject Content

Refresher/Introduction to Memory Research
Remembering What Never Happened: The Myth of Repression
Wrongful Convictions
Eyewitness Identification
Eyewitness Testimony
The Cognitive Interview Technique
Remembering Trauma
Suspect Interrogations
Introduction to Clinical Forensic Psychology

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Type Length Percent Threshold Individual/Group Task
Quiz 13 x 10 questions each 10 N Individual
Essay 1000 words 25 N Individual
Case Study 1000 words 35 N Individual
Final Exam 60 multiple choice questions 30 N Individual

Teaching Periods

Spring (2022)

Online

Online

Subject Contact Kiley Seymour Opens in new window

View timetable Opens in new window

Spring (2023)

Online

Online

Subject Contact Kiley Seymour Opens in new window

View timetable Opens in new window

Structures that include subject