Not to be confused with the discipline of forensic science (the study of crime scenes, evidence, etc.) with which it does share a common platform, forensic psychology is one of the main bulwarks of criminal justice today. Basically, it finds application in the establishment of competency (selection of juries, witnesses, etc.) and the formulation of workable policies in justice administration.

Probably its most exciting and glamorous application is in the prediction of criminal patterns (for example, where will the serial killer strike next/who will his next victim be?). But forensic psychology is an integral weapon in other areas of justice, too. In the hearing of a criminal case, for instance, the effective cross-examination of a subpoenaed witness and the establishment of his/her credibility often calls for deep knowledge of forensic psychology.

The genesis of forensic psychology as a serious discipline probably dates back to the earliest part of the twentieth century, when the pioneering psychologist William Stern made concerted attempts to investigate individual personality in general and aberrations in particular. He did a lot of research on the human mind