help with an outline

Running Head: FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY

Forensic Psychology 5

Week 5 assignment: outline

Arlenn Campos-Martinez

Department of Psychology, Northcentral University

PSY 5502 V2 – Psychology of Law and Justice

Dr. Barden

April 22, 2021

Forensic psychology involves applying results from areas of psychology when maintaining law and order. Psychologists are allowed to assess the psychological condition of the people involved. Forensic psychologists work with the law department, where they come up with summarized criminal profiles based on criminal behaviour. (Motzkau, 2014)

Example of a controversy

Should a child be brought to justice for being racist? Kids have been heard making racist comments innocuously and others with intentions of hurting their fellow kids. The first thing we should consider in such a situation is the source and the reason for the comment. A psychologist will first determine if the kid knows the comment is wrong. Some kids tend to talk and say things said by people around them randomly; for example, a kid may adopt his/her parent's talking habits where they keep talking about how daddy talks and calling things what mom calls them. Children cannot learn different diversities and perspectives to formulate personal thoughts. They lack the capacity. They only learn what is around them and cannot identify abusive comments; what media airs and what celebrities say can also greatly influence a child's behaviour. However, some scholars have argued that racist kids are raised by racist parents who are stuck in the old racist system. Employment and criminal systems are examples of systems with racism history. Kids bullying other kids in schools are being punished through suspensions while offering therapy sessions to bully and racist kids. Juvenile justice systems can pass judgment to young kids considering their difference from adults. These systems give children responsibility while developing skills and values.

Legal Significance

Parents should be encouraged not to pass their attitudes and manners to their kids by avoid abusive terms, promoting equality, controlling information accessible to their kids, and most importantly, being their first role models. The government bringing kids to justice is a good example to kids with abusive manners. Conversation on racism is being brought to kids, thus educating and nurturing interpersonal relationships among kids.

Psychological Significance

All factors around him/her control a child's behaviour. It is wrong to judge a child's racist comment without assessing the reason behind it. Society has monitored children's behaviour by providing a favourable environment for growth and development.

My stance in the controversy

Since kids have no ultimate control of what they come across in different sectors of life, it is okay not to judge them but instead guide them. Taking children to courts can frighten them, and so kids should be punished by teachers or parents. Some kids insult others for fun, and that's their nature, while others get offended too fast; kids might not be in a position to understand such feelings and emotions. A better system for controlling kid's behaviours should be introduced with the participation of both parents and teachers.

Conclusion

Protecting children is the responsibility of the government, parents, and society at large. Good conduct around kids is key to nurturing their behaviours. Understanding that a kid's perspective of a situation is different from an adult's perspective will help guide them in simple decision-making. Promoting equality, especially in schools, should continue. The media should avoid displaying abusive content, and parents should filter internet data accessed by their kids to keep them away from unwanted, abusive, or wrong information.

Reference

Englander, E. (2004). Introduction to Forensic Psychology: Issues and Controversies in Crime and Justice. Crime, Law, And Social Change, 41(3), 289-292. https://doi.org/10.1023/b:cris.0000024476.34580.25

Motzkau, J. (2014). Forensic Psychology. Encyclopedia Of Critical Psychology, 741-747. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5583-7_115