Alright, folks, gather ’round! Today, I wanna talk about something that’s been keeping me busy lately – I’ve been diving deep into the world of forensic psychology, and let me tell you, it’s a wild ride! So, I started out thinking, “Where do I even begin with this stuff?” I mean, it’s a huge field, right?
First thing I did was hit up the internet, of course. I typed in “books for forensic psychology” and, boy, did I get a ton of results! It was kinda overwhelming, to be honest. But I figured, hey, that’s a good place to start. I started clicking on different links and reading through a bunch of articles and lists of book recommendations.
I made a list of the books that popped up most often, and also, the books that seemed to be recommended by people who looked like they knew what they were talking about. I also made a note of the books that sounded interesting to me personally. I mean, if I’m gonna be spending hours reading this stuff, I gotta be at least a little bit interested, right?
After I had a pretty solid list, I started looking into where I could actually get these books. Some of them were available at my local library, which was awesome. Others, I had to order online.
Once I got a few books in my hands, I started reading! The first one I picked up was “The Anatomy of Evil” by Michael H. Stone. This guy is a big deal in the forensic psych world, and this book goes into how he rates people on a scale of evil.
Next up, I tackled “Essentials of Forensic Psychological Assessment” by Marc J. Ackerman. This one was a bit more technical, but it was super helpful in understanding how forensic psychologists actually assess people. It’s not like what you see on TV, let me tell you!
Then I decided to switch things up a bit and read “Never Split the Difference” by Chris Voss. Now, this one isn’t strictly about forensic psych, but it’s written by a former FBI hostage negotiator, and it’s all about how to negotiate like a pro. Since there is a lot of negotiation in the forensic field, I think it is also quite helpful.
I also got my hands on “Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit“. And I found a book called “Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us” by Robert D. Hare, which was as creepy and fascinating as it sounds. Also, I read something about “Unnatural Causes” and “The Silent Dead“, which are also quite popular. I guess the authors are all big names.
While reading, I found out that to be a forensic psychologist, you can major in Criminal Justice, Clinical Psychology, Counseling, Forensics, or Psychology. And they can make good money. The highest pay is around $126,000 per year, while the lowest is around $49,000. In places like California and New York, they can earn more.
Now, I’m still making my way through my reading list, but I’m learning so much. It’s definitely a lot to take in, but it’s also super interesting. It takes time to read and digest all of it, but it’s worth it.
- Stay curious, everyone!
