PSY 1C 04: APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
UNIT IV: EMERGING IDEAS IN APPLIED
PSYCHOLOGY
TOPIC: History of Psychology
, My only purpose is to turn the attention of serious men to an absurdly
neglected field [psychology and law] which demands the full attention
of the social community. (Munsterberg, 1908, p. 12)
The development of the synthesis of law and psychology will be a
long and perhaps a tedious process; but it is a process, however much
patience it may require, which for the law will yield a fruitful harvest.
(Cairns, 1935, p. 219).
While it is difficult to mark the true beginning of the field of
psychology and law or “legal psychology”, a conventional marker is
Munsterberg ’ s seminal work, On the Witness Stand: Essays on
Psychology and Crime (1908) . The existence of the contemporary
field of psychology and law has therefore now passed the first century
mark. Given that milestone, it is appropriate and fittings to reflect on
the development of the field. Having spent more than 25 years in it,
this is a particularly exciting opportunity for me. It is my view that by
considering the development and progress of the field, we may be
able to identify some successes, challenges, and, ultimately, future
opportunities.
To begin, I will consider the early development of the field. Many
will be surprised to learn of the rather inauspicious beginnings that
UNIT IV: EMERGING IDEAS IN APPLIED
PSYCHOLOGY
TOPIC: History of Psychology
, My only purpose is to turn the attention of serious men to an absurdly
neglected field [psychology and law] which demands the full attention
of the social community. (Munsterberg, 1908, p. 12)
The development of the synthesis of law and psychology will be a
long and perhaps a tedious process; but it is a process, however much
patience it may require, which for the law will yield a fruitful harvest.
(Cairns, 1935, p. 219).
While it is difficult to mark the true beginning of the field of
psychology and law or “legal psychology”, a conventional marker is
Munsterberg ’ s seminal work, On the Witness Stand: Essays on
Psychology and Crime (1908) . The existence of the contemporary
field of psychology and law has therefore now passed the first century
mark. Given that milestone, it is appropriate and fittings to reflect on
the development of the field. Having spent more than 25 years in it,
this is a particularly exciting opportunity for me. It is my view that by
considering the development and progress of the field, we may be
able to identify some successes, challenges, and, ultimately, future
opportunities.
To begin, I will consider the early development of the field. Many
will be surprised to learn of the rather inauspicious beginnings that
