Law and psychology: An exploration of the conceptual interface

• Jurisdiction: South Africa
• Pages: 19-32
• Date: 28 August 2019
• Author: BT Gillmer
• Published date: 28 August 2019

Law and psychology:

An exploration of

the conceptual interface

BT GILLMER*

DA LOUW**

T VERSCHOOR***

Opsomming

In hierdie artikel word die verhouding tussen sielkunde en die reg bespreek. 'n Kort

oorsig oor die ontwikkeling van hierdie stormagtige romansen word geskets. Die

klem val op die belangrikste dimensies wat konflik tussen die twee dissiplines

veroorsaak: die wese van die twee onderskeie wetenskappe, die verskille

in

navorsingsbeginsels, metodologie, epistemologie, die beskouing van wat presies 'n

feit is, kriteria vir betroubaarheid, teoretiese beginsels en taal. Hoewel die forensiese

sielkunde en die reg dikwels vanuit verskillende paradigmas funksioneer, is dit

belangrik dat die soms ontstuimige verhouding voortgesit word en dat alles

moontlik gedoen sal word om die nodige harmoniese klimaat to skep.

1

Introduction

As one explores the distinction between psychological and legal thinking, the

imperfect fit of these knowledge bases becomes obvious. Witness expertise

begins to demand delineation. In order to provide such guidelines one needs

to gain, in the first instance, some appreciation from a legal perspective of the

kinds of questions that may or may not be asked of psychologists. What is the

juristic expectation of the psychological profession? Are psychologists '. . .

merely engaged as magicians to perform an intriguing side-show so that the

spectators will not notice the crisis in the center ring?'

1

It is no coincidence that a judge is the first source that is cited. The point of

departure and thrust of argument in this article will be that forensic psychology

is a psychological argument for a legal arena. Invited guests must take their

lead from the host. What kind of expectation is it? Are psychologists called as

* PhD.

Department of Psychology University of Natal.

** D Phil.

Department of Psychology University of the Orange Free State.

*** B Iuris, LL D.

Department of Criminal and Medical Law University of the Orange Free State.

1

DC Bazelon in JL Tapp 'Psychology and the law: An overture' 1976

Annual Review of

Psychology

359-404.

19

(1997) 10 SACJ 19

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