Forensic Psychology And Sports Psychology

Forensic Psychology

Santhoshi Bhadri 

Description

 

If you are someone who’s keen on learning the science of human behaviour and the law, then forensic psychology is most suitable for you. Forensic psychology is the application of psychology to the criminal justice system. It uses psychological principles to administer legal, judicial and law enforcement systems. Forensic psychology knowledge is used in various forms, such as in treating mentally ill offenders, consulting with attorneys (e.g., on picking a jury), analyzing a criminal's mind and intent, criminal profiling, and the list goes on. 

Therefore, it can be broadly divided into two parts:

Application

There are the following prominent applications of forensic psychology:

 

1. Criminal profiling
2. Crime analysis
3. Interviewing: Interviewing eyewitnesses to give details about the crime scene. In the same way, interviewing suspects to gain his or her view of events and to possibly extract a confession to the crime.
4. Detecting deception: Carrying out methods like polygraph, layered voice analysis, narco-analysis to extract the truth. 
5. Police psychology: It is concerned with the application of psychological knowledge to assist in police investigation
6. Expert witness: Providing their expertise relating to the issue in question. Psychologists now are called upon as evidence in relation to a wide variety of issues, not just relating to mental impairment or the psychological functioning of an individual.
7. Assessment and treatment of offenders: Forensic psychologists are involved in the assessment, rehabilitation and management of offenders by either reducing their probability of reoffending in the future or addressing their psychological needs.
8. Research: Carrying out research within the field of forensic psychology could include psychology of criminal behaviour, investigation, the assessment and treatment of offenders.

Duration of the course and degrees

   

(You need to get a license to practice, in order to become a forensic psychologist)

 

College offering forensic psychology courses:

1. International Forensic Science Institute (IFS)
2. Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (GFSU)
3. Christ University, Bengaluru (Paper) 
4. Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh

Job opportunities:

1. Jobs for forensic psychologists in India are limited. The few options that are available are:
2. Jury consultant: A jury consultant is an expert in human behaviour who works within the courtroom helping attorneys to pick objective jurors and gain insight into their opinions and conduct.
3. Rehabilitation psychologist: You can work in the prison to help convicts deal with their psychological issues.
4. Lie detection: You can also work in the forensic science lab to assist in Polygraph, Brain Mapping and Narco Analysis cases.

 

Sports Psychology

Description

If you are a psychology student and you are passionate about sports, then sports psychology is the right field for you. Sports psychology is that branch of psychology that studies and applies the psychological principles to sports; athletic performance, exercise and physical activity. It studies the interactions between psychology and sports performance, and the connection between biological and psychological functioning. They focus on understanding how the performance and the motivation of the athlete can be boosted. 

 

 

Application

1. Your role as a sports psychologist would include:
2. Enhancing performance of the athletes: Training the athletes by using psychological skills, performance improvement, boosting motivation, imagery, and athlete’s self-talk.
3. Research: Studying the psychological factors that improve athlete performance.
4. Working with organizations that are dedicated to sports settings like The Olympics.

 

Duration of the course and degrees

 

Colleges offering sports psychology courses in India:

1. Guru Nanak Dev university, Amritsar
2. National Sports University, Manipur
3. Institute of sports science and technology, Pune (Diploma)
4. Amity University, Noida (PG Diploma)
5. Indian institute of sports medicine, Chennai 
6. Jain University, Bengaluru (PG Diploma)

 

 

Job opportunities

1. Research: Studying the relationship between personality, mind, and sports performance. 
2. Physical rehabilitation centre: You can work in a rehabilitation centre for the physically challenged. 
3. Trainer: training athletes on every level how to use techniques such as visualization, self-talk, mental rehearsals, cognitive restructuring, and relaxation techniques to enhance their performance. 
4. Counselling and clinical interventions: Athletic motivation; eating disorders and weight management; substance abuse; grief, depression, loss and suicide; over-training and burnout; aggression and violence; athletic injury and rehabilitation.
5. Consultant: Team building; sports organization consultation; interpersonal and leadership skills and talent development; education of coaches and administrators regarding early identification and prevention of psychological difficulties.