Forensic Psychology in Germany

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The book explores the origins and evolution of forensic psychology in Germany from the late 1800s to World War II, emphasizing its interdisciplinary roots and the shift in focus over time. Initially aimed at understanding all individuals in criminal proceedings, the discipline gradually narrowed to concentrate on witnesses due to courtroom demands. Through in-depth analyses of the Berchtold and Frenzel trials, it examines the ongoing tensions among psychiatry, psychology, and law, questioning why a dominant approach in forensic psychology had not been established by 1939.