Exam 15: The Promising Future of Forensic Psychology in Canada

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The main findings of the Porter, Woodworth, and Birt (2000) study examining deception detection by parole officers were that parole officers were generally not effective at detecting deception in their parolees. The study found that officers were only able to accurately detect deception at a rate that was no better than chance. This suggests that parole officers may need additional training or tools to improve their ability to detect deception in their parolees. Additionally, the study found that officers tended to rely on behavioral cues and personal beliefs rather than objective indicators of deception, which may have contributed to their lack of accuracy in detecting deception. Overall, the study highlighted the need for improved methods of deception detection in the parole system.

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One long-standing but mistaken assumption about human behavior held by the legal system is the belief that harsher punishments act as a deterrent for crime. For many years, the legal system has operated under the assumption that increasing the severity of punishments, such as longer prison sentences or the death penalty, would discourage individuals from committing crimes. However, research has shown that this assumption is flawed. Studies have found that the threat of harsh punishment does not significantly impact an individual's decision to commit a crime. Instead, factors such as socioeconomic status, access to resources, and mental health play a much larger role in influencing criminal behavior. Despite this evidence, the legal system continues to rely on punitive measures as a means of deterring crime, perpetuating the mistaken assumption that harsher punishments are an effective deterrent.