Evolutionary Forensic Psychology

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Abstract

Forensic psychology is a burgeoning fi eld in the social and behavioral sciences. It explores the application of the science and the profession of psychology, including questions and issues relating to the law and legal systems. Research and practice in forensic psychology have been approached from a broad range of theoretical perspectives, from psychoanalytic to behavioral-genetic. It also has explored a issues ranging from the criminal mind to the origins of rules that govern the structure of societies. Despite these achievements, however, differences in theoretical perspectives in forensic psychology have led to an often splintered and incomplete treatment of the fi eld. Darwin’s (1859) theory of evolution by natural selection is the theoretical framework that unifi es the fi eld of biology. It unites research and understanding of the development, control, and organization of behavior. It informs domains of research, including communication, territoriality, parenting, and social behavior. The study of humans, which includes all of the social sciences, is part of the fi eld of biology. Evolutionary forensic psychology is a necessary step toward a unifi ed and complete understanding of psychology and the law.