This course explores the intersection of psychology and law, and the legitimacy of legal assumptions about human behaviour. Students will be exposed to a wide range of topics derived from work in social, clinical, cognitive, and developmental psychology that have influenced legal and forensic procedures. Major topics include false confessions, wrongful convictions, interrogation techniques, lie detection, eyewitness testimony, jury decision making, sentencing principles, mental illness, violent risk assessment, and psychopathy.
The course will consist of three-hour lectures, held once per week during the Winter 2020 term. In addition to lecture and textbook material, course content will incorporate media, video footage, guest lectures, and in-class demonstrations, and this material may be testable on an exam. Students are encouraged to read all assigned chapters and supplementary materials, and to attend all lectures or to borrow notes from a classmate if they are unable to attend a lecture. Not all material in the textbook will be discussed in lecture, and not all lecture material will be discussed in the textbook, but all material is potentially testable on exams.
The course will consist of three-hour lectures, held once per week during the Winter 2020 term. In addition to lecture and textbook material, course content will incorporate media, video footage, guest lectures, and in-class demonstrations, and this material may be testable on an exam. Students are encouraged to read all assigned chapters and supplementary materials, and to attend all lectures or to borrow notes from a classmate if they are unable to attend a lecture. Not all material in the textbook will be discussed in lecture, and not all lecture material will be discussed in the textbook, but all material is potentially testable on exams.
- Teacher: Caroline Erentzen
- Teacher: Regina Schuller