Institution: University of Ottawa ()
Category: Faculty of Social Sciences
Language:
English
Course Description
What happens when teenagers enter interrogation rooms or courtrooms? This course explores the mental and emotional side of how adolescents respond to legal situations. Students will discover how brain development affects decision-making, why teens may be vulnerable to pressure or manipulation, and what helps them share honest statements. Through case studies, debates, and interactive discussions, participants will connect neuroscience, psychology, and law to the realities of the juvenile justice system. Students will be equipped to evaluate risks adolescents face in interrogation settings, propose strategies that promote fairness, and apply developmental science to protect youth in legal contexts.
Biography
I’m a doctoral candidate in Experimental Psychology at the University of Ottawa, where I study how parents and children interact and how those relationships shape development. Before that, I completed a Master’s in Forensic Psychology, focusing on how young witnesses share their stories when they need a language interpreter. I’ve taught forensic psychology at the university level and have also led a mini course before, introducing students to the challenges teens face in the justice system. My goal is to make complex ideas about psychology and law easy to understand, and to show how they connect to real situations adolescents might encounter.
