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Forensic Psychology and Psychiatry
Forensic psychology and psychiatry go hand in hand, but that does not mean that they are identical. Some people try to use the words psychology and psychiatry interchangeably, but you can’t technically do that. There are notable differences to keep in mind about forensic psychology and forensic psychiatry, no matter how similar the practices may be. Before you start looking into the wrong career for your future, you need to have a clear idea about which one you want to get into. Here is a look at the differences between forensic psychology and psychiatry so you can pick the right one for you.
Differences between Forensic Psychology and Psychiatry
The main difference between forensic psychology and psychiatry is the focus that each profession has within the criminal justice system. While they both involve the mind and the law, they involve different aspects of the mind. Forensic psychology is focused on mental capacity and mental status. A forensic psychologist may be asked to determine if a mentally handicapped person is capable of speaking logically and truthfully in a court of law. A forensic psychiatrist, on the other hand, would be responsible for assessing the person’s mental disorder in the first place. He or she could determine if there is a medical reason why a person is acting in a certain way.
Forensic psychiatrists are responsible for identifying the mental problems for a person in other areas of criminal justice too. Some of them will work in prisons to determine if some of the inmates may have mental problems preventing them from interacting with other inmates. Forensic psychologists would be more likely to evaluate inmates who are up for parole, determining if they are safe enough to enter society. Both professions may work in the same place of employment, but they will need to cover different duties while at work.
Similarities between Forensic Psychology and Psychiatry
The work load is pretty similar between forensic psychology and psychiatry, as is the training process. Forensic psychology students may take slightly different courses than forensic psychiatry students, but both sets of individuals will have to go through extensive degree programs to earn their doctoral degrees. Both sets of people can find work throughout the criminal justice system, and both usually end up running private practices to sustain an income.
No matter how many similarities there are though, you have to keep the differences in mind. Forensic psychology and psychiatry are not the same practice, and they do not require the same training at the end of the day. If you know you want to work in forensics, you just need to figure out which focus of it you want to pursue. Determining that could help you plan out your future.
