LAW 2650 - Psychology and Law

Fall. 4 credits. Student option grading.

Enrollment limited to: undergraduates only.

V. Hans, J. Rachlinski.

This course explores how cognitive, social & clinical psychology are used in law. Law makes many assumptions about human psychology, and lawyers and judges regularly rely on psychological research in their cases. The course examines the psychology underlying criminal confessions; children’s testimony; the insanity defense; risk assessment; judge and jury decision making; criminal punishment; constitutional law; and common law (tort, contract, and property) disputes. The course assesses the use and misuse of psychology in these subjects.