PDP
The mission of Walden University contains three core components. The first component is the nurturing of a "a diverse community of career professionals." The second component is providing the individual and the community with " the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar-practitioners." The third component of the Walden University mission is the ultimate goal to "effect positive social change." Corresponding to the mission of Walden University is the school's vision. The vision is broader than the mission and includes a "distinctively different 21st-century learning community." The envisioned community is "distinctively different" in that "knowledge is judged worthy to the degree that it can be applied by its graduates to the immediate solutions of critical societal challenges. The application of knowledge thereby "advances the greater global good." In other words, students are expected to have visions that go beyond self-serving, toward serving the community. One of the reasons why I have selected forensic psychology as my course of study is that I feel that I can contribute to the betterment of the world by applying myself in this professional context. The American legal system might not be in shambles, but it has weaknesses that are harming the democracy and the quality of life of its citizens. It is my express goal to apply what I learn at Walden to eliminate some of the problems in the criminal justice system, approached from the perspective of psychology. By revealing the role of psychology in the legal system as a scholar-practitioner, I can help inform matters of public policy that impact the lives of others.
There is a direct link between the Walden mission and vision statements, and my own via the selected course of study in forensic psychology. For one, I will be participating in the "diverse community of career professionals" as a forensic psychologist. Second, as a scholar-practitioner I will be "effecting positive social change" by applying forensic psychology to the transformation of the legal system and how it is practiced. Third, I look forward to "advancing the greater global good" by applying "immediate solutions" to "critical societal challenges" ranging from prison overcrowding to the persecution of persons who have special needs.
References
Walden University (2013). "Get to Know Walden." Retrieved online: http://www.waldenu.edu/about
Assignment 1: Professional Development Plan (PDP)
Part 1: Personal and Professional Goals
It has long been a desire of mine to work within the realm of criminal justice. How exactly to apply myself to this exciting and diverse field has recently revealed itself, as I embark on my program of study at Walden University. The field of forensic psychology applies the tools, methods, and body of knowledge in the field of psychology to practical applications in criminal justice. Understanding the interface between psychology and criminal justice is the first step toward fulfilling my professional goals. The next step will be to apply forensic psychology to practice, such as by offering consulting and ultimately, public policy creation.
The Masters Degree in forensic psychology from Walden University is ideal, as my personal goals correspond with the mission and vision of Walden University. I intend to work as a scholar-practitioner with a commitment to social change and social justice. Until this point, my educational and professional background prepares me for the next phase of my career as a scholar-practitioner. Once I receive the degree, I will possess the tools for fulfilling future dreams as a forensic psychologist.
Part 2: Educational Background and Research Proficiency
My educational background has been broad and allows me to understand the following steps that must be taken in order to receive my Masters Degree in forensic psychology from Walden University. Coursework in psychology and sociology address the concepts of deviance and how those concepts impact the criminal justice system. Motivation for crime, and how to intervene from the standpoint of a psychologist, are also parts of my background in psychological studies. I have also had introductory courses in criminology and forensics. My proficiency in research methods is due in part to my having good instructors who helped me to analyze and interpret peer-reviewed, scholarly data.
My academic strengths include strong analytical and critical thinking skills; and the ability to discover creative solutions to problems identified from the research. I am hard working and dedicated. My weaknesses...
Profiling or Guessing- the role of criminal profiling is certainly one in the popular press and media. Television shows such as CSI or Bones bring the task of forensics into the mainstream living room, but these shows tend to focus more on the sexier forms of criminology as opposed to the gray area of forensic psychology. A professional forensic psychologist, though, understands that a typical profile is not meant to
Chapter 12 -- Trial Consultation - The Forensic Psychologist is often called to aid in jury selection. One role, depending on stakeholder, is to assess potential jurors for the potential to be unbiased against the accused. Often the consulting Forensic Psychologist will recommend to the Court that a fair trial cannot take place in a given location based on community bias or other factors. The psychological aspects of such a recommendation
While "immediately following a crime a forensic psychologist may be asked to act as a criminal profiler" in the court system, the psychologist may be asked to evaluate the competency of a specific defendant in a criminal trial or to assess the level of mental harm done to the plaintiff in a civil trial (Decaire n.d). "Often a forensic psychologist is asked to make evaluations of defendants or plaintiffs'
This contribution towards the evolution of this field gives more credence and attention to these practices, making this award important for everyone involved. The education system is the starting point for many important subjects such as forensic psychology. The importance of making this particular discipline accepted and official allows the followers and subsidiaries of these streams of information a guide path to elaborate on their own studies on the matter.
Forensic Psychology From the perspective of the forensic psychiatrist, suicide as a cause of death is particularly important in terms of its preventability. In many forensic settings, prior risk assessment for potential suicide victims can assist the psychiatrist in not only saving the lives of potential victims, but also in resolving crimes, preventing future crimes, or at the very least save uncountable grief and heartache to the families involved. The article
" (Franklin, 2006, p.1) Assessed are personality factors and an attempt is made to determine which parents is closer to the children on a psychological level. The children are evaluated as well in an examination that involves the psychological assessing he emotional connection of the child to each of the child's parents. As well the psychologist examines whether the children appear to have any psychological problems of a significant nature. School
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