Literature Review – Socioeconomic Factors in Forensic Psychology

Literature Review – Socioeconomic Factors in Forensic Psychology

Socioeconomic status (SES) is one of the many external factors that affect the field of forensic psychology, which focuses on the relationship between law and psychology. SES includes components like income and education levels, access to health care, and living conditions that significantly determine psychological responses and experiences with the criminal justice system. In this literature review, three peer-reviewed articles published in the last three years are assessed to review how socioeconomic factors influence forensic psychology in relation to juvenile delinquency, education-based interventions, and mental health.

Article 1: Impact of Social Factors Responsible for Juvenile Delinquency

Summary

Abhishek and Balamurugan (2024) provide a comprehensive review of social factors contributing to juvenile delinquency. They concentrate on poverty, education, and the family environment, integrating results from different works to demonstrate how these factors affect criminality in youths. The authors attribute high rates of juvenile crime to poverty and illiteracy since these factors result in poor living standards and a lack of resources (Abhishek & Balamurugan, 2024).

Thoughts and Perspectives

As seen from this literature review, it is crucial to deal with social disparities to avoid juvenile delinquency. The authors state that education enhancement initiatives and family support programs could reduce delinquency levels. Thus, according to the principles of forensic psychology, social factors of criminal behavior should be relative to intervention strategies. This way, forensic psychologists are able to identify and evaluate the causes and conditions that might encourage juvenile delinquency, hence contributing to better prevention and treatment programs.

Article 2: Enhancing Forensic Education: Exploring the Importance and Implementation of Evidence-Based Education System

Summary

Nilendu (2024) explores the role of education in forensic psychology, particularly the implementation of evidence-based education systems. In the article, the author addresses the issue of how educational interventions can help narrow the gap between different categories of people in the criminal justice system. Nilendu (2024) stresses that leadership in forensic education should embrace research-based practices to enhance the reintegration of offenders. The research entails a comprehensive review of different educational programs that have been undertaken in correctional facilities, with the aim of assessing their impact on the rates of recidivism and the social well-being of ex-offenders (Nilendu, 2024).

Thoughts and Perspectives

This article focuses on the importance of education that may help eliminate socioeconomic inequalities in forensic psychology. Education in correctional centers can also play a crucial role when it comes to rehabilitation and prison recidivism rates, especially if evidence-based education programs are implemented. Education initiatives prove that offenders gain essential knowledge and skills for their social reintegration, implying that they will not recidivate. Whenever educational reform initiatives contain programs supported by evidence, they should be recommended by forensic psychologists since such programs can help reduce the disparity of poverty and, therefore, increase fairness in the criminal justice system.

Article 3: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mental Health and Mental Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Summary

Thomeer, Moody, and Yahirun (2022) investigate the racial and ethnic disparities in mental health and access to mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study further shows how issues of income and health care drain mental health among racial and ethnic minority groups. The authors noted that people with a low SEP had poorer mental health because of limited access to mental health care. They stated that the pandemic exacerbated these differences, making it even harder for vulnerable populations to seek and access the care they require (Thomeer et al., 2022).

Thoughts and Perspectives

It is evident from this research that socioeconomic factors are compounded with race in influencing mental health services. Due to these disparities, forensic psychologists have to bear with them when dealing with clients from diverse backgrounds. The availability of mental health services must be made more accessible to vulnerable and marginalized communities for psychological distress during pandemics such as COVID-19. Thomeer et al. (2022) address the problem of the lack of mental health services for disadvantaged groups—change at the systemic level is needed to decrease the psychological effects of inequality.

Practical Implications for Forensic Psychologists

Forensic psychologists should actively encourage and establish culturally appropriate measurement tactics that will help make fair assessments. Candidates have to eliminate bias at individual and organizational levels to ensure fair distribution of resources across all the SESs. Ensuring that education is properly practiced in correctional facilities can minimize the rate of recidivism and assist in offenders’ re-entry (Arnold, 2021). Furthermore, and perhaps one of the most important, is the need to engage in policy advocacy to ensure that adequate resources are dedicated to mental health services, education, and social support interventions to reduce the effects of poverty and other socioeconomic factors in relation to crime.

Conclusion

The reviewed articles collectively suggest that the influence of socioeconomic factors on numerous spheres of forensic psychology is rather significant. Confronting such social problems as poverty, healthcare, and education can help identify efficient strategies and prevent discrimination in the sphere of criminal justice. To help make the legal system more equitable, forensic psychologists have to take the given socioeconomic factors into account.

References

Abhishek, R., & Balamurugan, J. (2024). Impact of social factors responsible for juvenile delinquency – A literature review. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 13(1), 102. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_786_23

Arnold, M. (2021). The understanding bias of forensic psychologists who conduct competency evaluations with minority defendants. Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=11973&context=dissertations

Nilendu, D. (2024). Enhancing forensic education: Exploring the importance and implementation of the evidence-based education system. Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41935-023-00375-w

Thomeer, M. B., Moody, M. D., & Yahirun, J. (2022). Racial and ethnic disparities in mental health and mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-022-01284-9

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The research and application of psychology is influenced by external factors, such as what we discussed in the previous assignment regarding multiculturalism. Other issues that impact psychology are socioeconomic factors including such things as poverty, access to health care, education, and living conditions/quality of life.

Socioeconomic Factors in Forensic Psychology

For this assignment, you will review three scholarly journal articles related to your interests in psychology and relevant to socioeconomic factors as described by (but not limited to) the examples above.
The scholarly journal articles will be within the last 2–3 years.
Search the South University Online Library databases. Other sources, such as textbooks, Wikipedia, and other online sources will not be accepted. Read and analyze each of the articles and create a synopsis.
In your synopsis, make sure to include:

A summary of each of the journal articles.
Your thoughts and perspectives regarding the concepts covered in each of the journal articles.