Class Legal and Forensic Psychology

This uc aims to bring students closer to the theoretical and operational concepts of Psychology in the legal and judicial domains, preparing them to understand psychocriminal discourse and to cooperate with forensic psychologists.

It is intended that students understand the nature of the work of criminal and forensic psychologists in justice, as well as the concept and operationality of psychological intervention.

In this line, it becomes a fundamental course for professional practice, at the same time as it trains students for multidisciplinary intervention.

Legal and Forensic Psychology: notion, object and framework. Historical trajectory. Different designations and their reasons. Psychology and Criminology complementarity: The question of behaviors, precipitating causes; deviant and associative behaviors. Methodology. The juspsychological and psychoinclusive interventions: concepts and legitimation; Specific areas. Psychology and Criminology in the Justice System. Juspsychological intervention method. Forensic Psychogical assessment: Concept, object and application. The utility of psychological assessment for criminological assessment. The psychological contribution in non-criminal legal areas. Psychological autopsy: Concept, legal framework and method. Application to practical cases. Investigation in Legal and Forensic Psychology: Privileged fields and association with Criminology 

The course will be taught, in addition to the expository component, using the analysis of small excerpts from scientific works, commented on with students, and with frequent illustration of practical cases. The activities organized by the course management will allow students to come into contact with the reality of Psychology and with professionals in this area, which facilitates the notion of the need for multidisciplinary work

• Debuyst, C.,Digneffe, F., & Pires, A. P. (1998). Histoire des Savoirs sur le Crime & la Peine.2. Bruxelles: De Boek & Lacier
• Digneffe, F. (Dir.) (1990). Acteur social et délinquance. Bruxelles: Pierre Mardaga
• Foucault, M. (2003). Vigiar e Punir. Petrópolis: Vozes
• Gavin, H. (2014). Criminological and Forensic Psychology. London: SAGE
• Gonçalves, R. A. & Machado, C. (Eds.) (2005). Psicologia Forense. Coimbra: Quarteto
• Poiares, C. (2012). (Ed.) Manual de Psicologia Forense e da Exclusão Social .Lisboa: Edições Universitárias Lusófonas
• Rovinsky, S & Cruz, R. (Orgs.) (2009). Psicologia Jurídica – Perspectivas teóricas e processos de intervenção. S.Paulo: Vector