Psychological Violence and Testimonial Credibility in Judicial Proceedings: Challenges for Forensic Assessment from a Legal Psychology Perspective

Abstract

Psychological violence constitutes a highly complex phenomenon within judicial proceedings, as its manifestations may develop progressively and without directly observable physical evidence, affecting emotional, cognitive, behavioural and interpersonal dimensions. This study examines the psychological and methodological criteria employed in the forensic assessment of psychological violence and the credibility of testimony, together with the principal challenges faced by Legal Psychology in ensuring technically rigorous assessments. It adopts a qualitative approach, with a descriptive scope and documentary design, through a systematic review structured in accordance with the PRISMA method, considering academic publications from 2018 to 2026. The findings highlight the need to assess the frequency, continuity and context of behaviours such as intimidation, control, threats, denigration, isolation and subjugation, as well as their potential psychological repercussions. Furthermore, testimonial credibility cannot be established on the basis of isolated indicators such as confidence in speech, emotional expression, observable behaviour or variations in the account. Forensic assessment requires specialised procedures, contextual analysis, corroboration of information and consideration of alternative explanations. It is concluded that the rigour of forensic assessment depends on a technically substantiated psychological evaluation and a precise delineation of its scope in relation to the judicial function.