So What Exactly IS Forensic Psychology?

Join me for a deep dive into the realm of Psychology and hopefully, a new understanding of the subtle and not-so-subtle differences between its disciplines

Typically, both in the grand narrative of cinema and the nuanced realm of television, forensic psychology is often depicted as the domain of brilliant Medical Examiners or members of elite law enforcement agencies using their expertise to outsmart criminal masterminds.

Regrettably, such dramatizations bear little resemblance to the reality of the profession.

I earned my master’s degree in Psychology in 1997, a mere four years before the American Psychological Association (APA) officially recognized forensic psychology as a specialization in 2001. To be acknowledged as one of the first Forensic Psychologists in the United States, I returned to my alma mater, Columbia University in NYC, and undertook four focused classes on the discipline. The APA’s substantial alterations to the parameters of forensic psychology in 2008 demanded a complete recertification.

Since then, staying current in the field has entailed numerous refresher courses, keeping abreast of the latest techniques, discoveries, case studies, and theories — acknowledging that psychology, fundamentally, thrives on theories.

Contrary to popular belief, Forensic Psychology, rooted in Wilhelm Wundt’s principles introduced in 1879, has little to do with crime scene investigation or evidence gathering. Its primary application is to equip professionals to testify accurately in court.

Forensic psychologists, like myself, rarely tread beyond the courtroom’s confines. Our main responsibilities include such tasks as determining if police officers are psychologically fit to resume duty after suffering traumatic events, assessing the suitability of a tentative parolee for release into the public, or even assisting with jury selection for either the prosecution or the defense in certain higher profile cases.

Two very high-profile cases that employed forensic psychologists to assist with jury selection — although it was never widely publicized — were the OJ Simpson trial in 1995, and the Scott Peterson trial in 2004.

What’s perhaps even more intriguing, is that the side of each of those cases that hired forensic psychologists to assist with voir dire (jury selection) won the jury in each instance.

The discipline of trial science (yes, that’s a real thing) has become so popular that actor Michael Weatherly, who starred as NCIS Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo for 13 seasons, actually left NCIS to star in his own show called Bull, which ran for six seasons.

Bull was a show about — you guessed it, a man who was so good at applied trial science — that he started his own high-priced company specializing in exactly that. If you find trial science as interesting as I do, you can stream all six seasons of Bull on Paramount+. The show actually does a pretty good job elaborating on the nuances of the discipline.

While portrayed glamorously on TV, the real crime scene magic is performed by highly skilled forensic crime scene technicians with a distinct educational background. These CSI techs, brilliant in their own right, lack formal training in psychology.

Their focus is on applying hard science to evidence collection and utilizing even more rigorous science for evaluating evidence, be it through trace evidence, toxicology, serology, or the pinnacle — DNA.

Forensic psychologists typically step in after the evidence is collected, the perpetrators identified, and arrests made. The process involves sessions with the accused, leading to a psychological diagnosis according to the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This diagnosis forms the basis for the official psychological report used in depositions, pre-trial hearings, and trial testimonies.

Contrary to TV portrayals where characters like Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard wear multiple forensic hats, such super-forensic figures are exceedingly rare, if not entirely fictional, in real-life practice.

So, before being inspired by TV dramas like CSI or NCIS, it’s crucial to recognize the stark divergence between fiction and the nuanced reality of forensic psychology. In my nearly 30 years in the field, encountering such super-forensic practitioners remains an elusive reality, existing predominantly within the realm of television police procedurals.

If you have an unquenchable taste for true crime, you should also check out Kurt’s two true crime podcasts — The Veritas 7, and Veritas True Crime which also has a sister publication here on Medium under the same name. Veritas True Crime Medium Publication is always looking for new writers to write about true crime. Do you have what it takes?

Some other fascinating articles by Kurt Dillon that you might enjoy:

Kurt Dillon is a Medium Top Writer in Psychology, Social Media, and True Crime. He is the CEO of WOMEN — Wild Orchid Media & Entertainment Network, Inc., and is also a long-standing editor for the ILLUMINATION family of Medium publications. Kurt and his wife Crystal rescue abandoned animals and currently lavish love upon 5 abandoned and abused dogs and 6 abandoned cats at the time of this writing. Kurt’s social links and personal/professional websites are all available in his Medium bio.