Judith Platania

The Time Is Now: The Emerging Need for Master's-Level Training in Forensic Psychology

ABSTRACT Since the inception of the first doctoral program in psychology and law in 1974, masters-level training in forensic psychology has been virtually ignored by the field of psychology and law training. Given the changes in the workplace over the past few decades, masters-level clinicians are providing more psychological services, often under the supervision of doctoral-level providers. Masters training programs are emerging in forensic psychology to fill the need for forensically-trained clinicians at the masters level. This article proposes a Bifurcated Educational Model (BEM) in advocating for forensic psychology training at the masters level. Citing the Villanova Conference on Training in Law and Psychology, the authors argue for a similar approach to evaluating and improving the effectiveness in masters-level programs.

Understanding Perceptions of Hypnotically Recovered Memories in a Civil Sexual Abuse Case

Perceptions of hypnosis and hypnotically recovered testimony were examined in a civil sexual abuse case. Participants read one of eight trial transcript summaries varying in expert witness testimony and victim testimony regarding the use of hypnosis in recovering a repressed memory of sexual abuse. Results indicated liability was influenced by hypnosis. The defendant was found less liable when testimony included hypnosis to recover memories compared to memories recovered without hypnosis. Expert testimony predicted perceptions of the victim and determinations of liability. Results demonstrate juror skepticism regarding the use of hypnosis in the context of recovered memories of sexual abuse.