Common Planner
K–12 Standards

Forensic Psychology

Other Texas CTE Innovation Courses sets

General requirements. This course is recommended for students in Grades 11-12. Recommended prerequisite: Law Enforcement I and Psychology. Students shall be awarded one credit for successful completion of this course.FORENSPSY.a

  • a

    General requirements. This course is recommended for students in Grades 11-12. Recommended prerequisite: Law Enforcement I and Psychology. Students shall be awarded one credit for successful completion of this course.FORENSPSY.a

Introduction.FORENSPSY.b

  • 1

    CTE instruction provides content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills for students to further their education and succeed in current or emerging professions.FORENSPSY.b.1

  • 2

    The Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security Cluster focuses on planning, managing, and providing legal services, public safety, protective services, and homeland security, including professional and technical support services.FORENSPSY.b.2

  • 3

    Forensic psychology is found at the intersection between psychology and the criminal justice system. It involves understanding criminal law in the relevant jurisdictions in order to be able to interact within the criminal justice system. The course introduces theoretical frameworks used to identify and diagnose the clinical psychiatric status of individuals involved in civil and criminal litigation. The course applies basic skills developed in psychology and criminal scenarios resulting in a structured and scientific approach to investigative analysis; thereby, enabling police and law enforcement officials to predict criminal activity via scientific analysis rather than intuition. Students will learn basic structured psychological investigative techniques in question building, interviewing, criminal behavior characteristics, truth detection methodology, research methods, statistical analysis and probability forecasting. FORENSPSY.b.3

  • 4

    Students are encouraged to participate in extended learning experiences such as career and technical student organizations and other leadership or extracurricular organizations.FORENSPSY.b.4

  • 5

    Statements that contain the word "including" reference content that must be mastered, while those containing the phrase "such as" are intended as possible illustrative examples.FORENSPSY.b.5

Knowledge and skills.FORENSPSY.c

  • 1

    The student knows the employability characteristics of a forensic psychologist in the modern workplace and industry. The student is expected to: FORENSPSY.c.1

    1. A

      achieve business and industry employability skills standards such as attendance, on-time arrival, meeting deadlines, working toward personal/team goals every day, and ethical use of technology;FORENSPSY.c.1.A

    2. B

      identify roles, function, and responsibilities of the forensic psychologist within the criminal justice system;FORENSPSY.c.1.B

    3. C

      explore subfields and career opportunities available in the science of forensic psychologyFORENSPSY.c.1.C

    4. D

      identify the value of the forensic psychologist in law enforcement and criminal investigative environments;FORENSPSY.c.1.D

    5. E

      demonstrate the ethical standards required of the forensic psychologist; andFORENSPSY.c.1.E

    6. F

      identify training requirements of a forensic psychologist.FORENSPSY.c.1.F

  • 2

    The student relates core academic skills to forensic psychology. The student is expected to:FORENSPSY.c.2

    1. A

      demonstrate computer and math skills to calculate statistical analysis of survey data collected during research;FORENSPSY.c.2.A

    2. B

      write grammatically correct, accurate, and concise reports in legal and ethical context for presentation in the criminal justice system;FORENSPSY.c.2.B

    3. C

      demonstrate appropriate vocabulary, terminology used in the field of forensic psychology;FORENSPSY.c.2.C

  • 3

    The student describes the intersections between the field of psychology and the criminal justice system. The student is expected to:FORENSPSY.c.3

    1. A

      identify characteristics that differentiate the field of forensic psychology from other related social sciences such as psychology and sociology;FORENSPSY.c.3.A

    2. B

      trace the historical development of contemporary perspectives in psychology, including biological, behavioral, cognitive, sociocultural, humanistic, and psychodynamic; FORENSPSY.c.3.B

    3. C

      relate historical changes in society and the field of psychology that have influenced the application of law in various cases;FORENSPSY.c.3.C

    4. D

      research, analyze, and present findings of historical psychological changes in culture, criminals, and society;FORENSPSY.c.3.D

    5. E

      identify and relate the history of forensic psychology on the criminal justice system;FORENSPSY.c.3.E

    6. F

      determine the historical relationship between forensic psychology and society; andFORENSPSY.c.3.F

    7. G

      explain the empirical value of forensic psychology in law enforcement.FORENSPSY.c.3.G

  • 4

    The student understands the development of behavior may be a life-long process. The student is expected to:FORENSPSY.c.4

    1. A

      critique the various perspectives presented in the nature versus nurture debate;FORENSPSY.c.4.A

    2. B

      trace the influence of mental development on the individual;FORENSPSY.c.4.B

    3. C

      discuss the role of the environment on individual development;FORENSPSY.c.4.C

    4. D

      discuss and evaluate the concept of moral and ethical behavior; andFORENSPSY.c.4.D

    5. E

      evaluate and predict behavior given particular criminal scenarios. FORENSPSY.c.4.E

  • 5

    The student understands the principles of motivation and emotion. The student is expected to:FORENSPSY.c.5

    1. A

      compare predominant theories of motivation and emotion; FORENSPSY.c.5.A

    2. B

      explore the interaction of biological and cultural factors in emotion and motivation; andFORENSPSY.c.5.B

    3. C

      discuss the possible emotions and motivations that may lead to criminal behavior.FORENSPSY.c.5.C

  • 6

    The student understands the development and assessment of personality within the legal system. The student is expected to:FORENSPSY.c.6

    1. A

      define personality;FORENSPSY.c.6.A

    2. B

      compare and evaluate various theories of personality, including psychodynamic, sadistic, trait, humanistic, and sociocultural; andFORENSPSY.c.6.B

    3. C

      describe personality assessment tools used in forensic psychology such as Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Criterion based content analysis (CBCA), child custody assessments, risk assessments, trauma assessments, and forensic interview and assessments; andFORENSPSY.c.6.C

    4. D

      discuss assessments used in the criminal justice system such as Reid and Preparation, Engage/Explain, Account, Closure, and Evaluate (PEACE) techniques.FORENSPSY.c.6.D

  • 7

    The student understands basic elements of reasoning. The student is expected to:FORENSPSY.c.7

    1. A

      define and identify the elements of thought such as point of view, question at issue, information, interpretation/inference, concepts, assumptions, and implications;FORENSPSY.c.7.A

    2. B

      identify strategies and obstacles associated with problem solving and decision making;FORENSPSY.c.7.B

    3. C

      evaluate the limitations and capabilities of the information processing model; andFORENSPSY.c.7.C

    4. D

      understand the culpable mental states.FORENSPSY.c.7.D

  • 8

    The student understands the multifaceted aspects of mental health. The student is expected to:FORENSPSY.c.8

    1. A

      explain stress and the individual's physiological, behavioral, and psychological responses to stressors;FORENSPSY.c.8.A

    2. B

      evaluate cognitive and behavioral strategies for dealing with stress that may lead to crime;FORENSPSY.c.8.B

    3. C

      analyze the challenges inherent in defining abnormal behavior and acknowledge the sociocultural stigma of labeling behavior as abnormal;FORENSPSY.c.8.C

    4. D

      recognize the biological, social, and cognitive origins of abnormal behavior; andFORENSPSY.c.8.D

    5. E

      discuss major categories of abnormal behaviors and identify their respective characteristics as classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM).FORENSPSY.c.8.E

  • 9

    The student understands the influence of society and culture upon behavior and choices. The student is expected to:FORENSPSY.c.9

    1. A

      describe how attributions affect explanations of criminal behavior;FORENSPSY.c.9.A

    2. B

      explore the nature and effects of bias and discrimination;FORENSPSY.c.9.B

    3. C

      describe circumstances in which conformity, obedience, and/or nonconformity are likely to occur; andFORENSPSY.c.9.C

    4. D

      describe the effects of the presence of others on individual behavior.FORENSPSY.c.9.D

  • 10

    The student explains the functions and applications of the theoretical approaches/strategies, tools, equipment, technologies, and materials used in the field of forensics. The student is expected to:FORENSPSY.c.10

    1. A

      identify categories of evidence;FORENSPSY.c.10.A

    2. B

      demonstrate use of technology to research techniques, assessments, and risk assessment by culture, individual, community, and society;FORENSPSY.c.10.B

    3. C

      demonstrate various interview techniques;FORENSPSY.c.10.C

    4. D

      demonstrate utilization of assessments and profiling of criminal behavior;FORENSPSY.c.10.D

    5. E

      determine questionnaire assessments to ascertain appropriate punishment for criminal behavior within the criminal justice system; FORENSPSY.c.10.E

    6. F

      identify and manage conflict between individuals, and groups;FORENSPSY.c.10.F

    7. G

      demonstrate understanding of “truth” and “ethics” as a student and as a forensic psychologist;FORENSPSY.c.10.G

    8. H

      identify and demonstrate the techniques of a forensic psychologist;FORENSPSY.c.10.H

    9. I

      demonstrate interview and interrogation techniques of the forensic psychologist; FORENSPSY.c.10.I

    10. J

      apply forensic psychology assessment values to law enforcement scenarios and situations;FORENSPSY.c.10.J

    11. K

      demonstrate the use of risk assessments and profiling in the criminal justice system; andFORENSPSY.c.10.K

    12. L

      demonstrate the forensic psychologist skills in a mock setting such as field research, courtroom presentation, or public speaking.FORENSPSY.c.10.L

  • 11

    The student applies the concepts and skills of forensic psychology to simulate an actual work situation. The student is expected to:FORENSPSY.c.11

    1. A

      identify potential clientele of the forensic psychologist;FORENSPSY.c.11.A

    2. B

      research major case studies;FORENSPSY.c.11.B

    3. C

      develop a criminal profile;FORENSPSY.c.11.C

    4. D

      gather evidence using various research methods and report the findings;FORENSPSY.c.11.D

    5. E

      research or interview a forensic psychologist expert; andFORENSPSY.c.11.E

    6. F

      interact with guest lecturers in the field of forensic psychology.FORENSPSY.c.11.F

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?
Grade 11 and Grade 12
Where can I read the official document?
TEA

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