FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY SCIENTIFIC OFFICER EXAM SYLLABUS

 SYLLABUS FOR THE POST OF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER
 FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY SECTION
 FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORY-POLICE DEPARTMENT
Unit I: Introduction to Psychology: Definition, Goals and scope of Psychology:
definition of Forensic psychology, Use of forensic psychological findings as basis for
further investigation, Assessing mental competency, mental disorder and forensic
psychology. Eyewitness testimony, criminal profiling, types. Clinical interventions –
Biological, Psychodynamic, Behaviorist, Cross Cultural, Humanistic, Evolutionary,
Cognitive Perspectives. Clinical assessment- Diagnosis and classification.
Unit II:, Psychosis, Neurosis, Disorders of personality and Behavior, organic mental
disorders, Mental retardation. Criminal Behavior, definition of criminal behavior, history
of crime, organized crime, crime against individual and society, psychosocial changes,
Social processing theory of origin of crime, social norms of criminal behavior, criminal
thoughts, intentions, and behavior, Interviewing the suspects to elicit domains of crime,
personality, emotional controls, Behavioral, cognitive controls , mental health and
neuropsychological status, Testing and certifying psychological issues recovery and
relapse in the offenders.

Unit III : Psychological Assessment- Behavioral assessment, Assessment of personality,
need of psychological tests, Personal History, Mental Status Examination, testing of
violent and sex offenders. Psychological Assessment- Tools, Purpose of Psychological
Assessment, nature and technique of case study, clinical interview, observation.
Assessment of false memory, confabulation, contaminations of eye witness evidence.
Conflict and use of defense mechanisms. Ethical and civil right issues of forensic
psychology assessment
Unit IV: Investigative Methods - Forensic psychologist as an investigator to help in
formulate the case (offensive actions). Principles of Lie detection tests – emotional
effects on autonomic nervous system functions, Neuro imaging (fMRI) techniques
using demarcation of cortical resource- demarcation during expression of lie,. Other
methods of detection effects of lie in speech, gestures, etc. Historical aspects of
BrainMapping, Neuro psychological aspects, operational aspects, analysis, methodology
and interpretation skills, Hypnosis, Requirements of Hypnosis, Narco analysis, General
Procedure.
Unit V: Mental illness and criminal behavior, psychopath, antisocial personality,
impulsiveness, Juvenile Delinquency, need for social protection, Drug Addiction and
Alcohol Dependence, Various types of mental disorders. NDPS Act, Rehabilitation of
addicts, Psychosocial factors of Child Sex Abuse, prevalence and social responsibilities ,

Psychosocial factors domestic violence, crime against women, Psychosocial factors
precipitating economic depravations, Crime monitoring, community rehabilitation of
individuals responsible for crime.

Click here to download Syllabus