About this course
Why do individual jurors draw different conclusions about the verdict on the basis of the same evidence? Can judges and jurors detect if defendants or victims lie about what occurred with an intention to withhold the truth at a trial? Should courts treat children as competent witnesses when no forensic evidence presents in child sexual abuse cases? The lack of science-based knowledge in psychology in legal practices may result in disastrous consequences and injustice. Considering the interface between psychology, law, and the courts, this course explores the psychology in the courtroom. It aims to provide students with an opportunity to probe how psychological research can be applied to better inform legal practices in our society.
Syllabus
Pre-requisites
One psychology course at university level.
Faculty
Meiling Liu
FacultyPh.D. in Forensic Psychology (China University of Political Science and Law, 2010). Post Doctorate in Forensic Psychology (Gothenburg University, 2012). Worked as an organizational consultant in areas of leadership and cross-cultural competence training in Sweden. Also has worked as a teacher and researcher at universities in China, and was promoted to the position of associate professor in China. With DIS since 2016.