Corso di laurea in Scienze e Tecniche Psicologiche

The objectives are both to promote a critical knowledge and ability with respect to psychology applied to the legal and forensic context, and to develop deontological and ethical skills. The aims are to orient students to the profession of psychology in the psycho-legal, psycho-criminological and psycho-forensic contexts; to reflect on the future professional role and on the lawfulness of certain conducts; to develop a competence in encountering the ‘scientific and professional zone’ of psychology and law; to enhance their sensitivity towards those principles of the Ethics Code for Psychologists that refers to professional activities within the criminal and civil legal context, and in research.

 

The course will provide students with knowledge related to:

1. Juridical and forensic psychology both in civil and criminal contexts.
2. Psychological deontology and ethics so as to understand the responsibilities, duties and possible problems that professional psychologists encounter.

The focus is on theory and research. The course will encourage the analysis of ethical dilemmas and will address topics that psychologists encounter in the unfolding of their profession by promoting critical analysis and awareness of the role and responsibility of the psychologist working in inter-professional and interdisciplinary contexts.

 

1. Develop an understanding of psychology applied to law and of the deontological and ethical principles applied to psychology and to those different professional juridical (criminal and civil) contexts where the psychologist might work.
2. Apply the acquired knowledge of ethics in psychology and employ it to the variety of settings (e.g. legal, forensic, criminological, etc.) where psychologists are employed.
3. Develop a critical and rigorous thinking, and a sense of professional responsibility, integrity, preciseness, and accurate methodology that can be valid and reliable within the legal setting.

The lecturing will be organised in short online lessons (through the Webex teleconferencing platform) and in recorded lessons. The course is structured so as to guarantee: (1) the sharing of study materials and slides; (2) the analysis of specialised topics that take the form of presentations recorded and uploaded on the platform. The recorded and the study material will be uploaded on the MOODLE platform and on the lecturer’s page.

Lessons and meetings are organised within the teaching scheduled agenda. The personal meeting room for the lecturing of Elementi di Psicologia giuridica e Deontologia (Canale A) can be found at the following address: https://unito.webex.com/meet/georgia.zara

 

At the end of the course there will be:

- A written exam, which will focus on issues concerning aspects of psychology and of ethics applied to juridical and forensic contexts.

- An oral exam on those topics analysed in the written paper that will lead to the formalisation of the grade.

Depending on the grade obtained in the written exam, the oral one will consist of a confirmation of that grade, or either an upgrading or a downgrading of it.

IMPORTANT UPDATES ON HOW TO CONDUCT EXAMINATIONS ELECTRONICALLY DURING THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY

It is possible that, due to the continuing Covid-19 emergency, the assessment of the learning process may be organised in the form of an oral exam only. Students will be properly updated on this matter at the beginning of the course.

In conjunction with the COVID-19 emergency, and in compliance with the Rector’s Decree rep. 1097/2020 of 20.03.2020, the examination will be held in the following ways, using the Webex teleconferencing platform.

WARNING: Any indications of examinations taken face to face should not be taken into consideration as they WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL THERE ARE NEW PROVISIONS.

Course syllabus

Psychology and Law.

Comparison between psychological and legal settings: aims, methodology, instruments, and objectives.

Ethical and deontological principles of Psychology as a science and as a practice.

Responsibilities, codes and values involved in the following activities:

• expert witness reports, in adult and juvenile juridical settings;
• court consultancy;
• assessment, treatment;
• scientific research within the psycho-juridical and psycho-criminological settings.

Classes will include seminars with the presence of experts.

 

 

Professor Georgia Zara receives students by appointment: georgia.zara@unito.it