Criminological Psychology MA

The Criminological Psychology MA (minor field) at Kingston provides students with the opportunity to study a theoretical and applied discipline, and can be studied alongside cognate subjects such as criminology and psychology.

Criminological Psychology demonstrates how criminological and psychological theories may be applied in order to provide explanations for crime causation, how to manage offenders and reduce offending behaviour. Psychological techniques are also considered in their application to criminal investigations and detection methods and improvement of the provision of evidence.

The appeal of this exciting discipline has been further enhanced in recent years by its high profile in the public domain as a result of its popularity in television and film portrayals. Criminological psychology is continually evolving and this course provides an introduction to this varied discipline and examines the application of this multidisciplinary approach in real-world settings.

What will you study?

The course programme has been designed to appeal to those with an emerging interest in criminological psychology and those already working in areas within the criminal justice field such as police, probation and prison officers.

Prospective students will study two principal subject areas (modules): Theoretical Perspectives and the Deconstruction of Criminal Behaviour and the Psychology of the Investigative and Judicial Process. Course content will include the application of psychology to the explanation of criminal behaviour, investigative techniques, the improvement of crime detection, and its relevance to specific areas within the judicial process, such as the provision of eyewitness testimony and jury decision-making.

The aim of this course is to develop an understanding of why individuals engage in criminal activities and how psychology can be applied in the investigation, detection and judicial fields as well as its utility in managing offenders.

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.

Core modules

• Theoretical Perspectives and the Deconstruction of Criminal Behaviour
• Psychology of the Investigative and Judicial Process

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