Gísli Guðjónsson is an Emeritus Professor of Forensic Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry of King’s College London and a Professor of Psychology at Reykjavík University.Professor Guðjónsson is viewed as having developed forensic psychology as a scientific discipline and his work, including his testimony in landmark cases in Britain and elsewhere, has significantly enhanced legal practice with regards to human rights of the accused, police training and confession evidence.
He is internationally recognised for his pioneering research into the measurement and application of interrogative suggestibility, psychological vulnerabilities and false confessions, which has stimulated extensive research and been applied to forensic and legal practice worldwide. Professor Guðjónsson has also made a large contribution to the role of psychologists as expert witnesses and has contributed significantly to the training of clinical and forensic psychologists, doctors, police officers and lawyers.Prior to his retirement from King‘s College on 1st January 2012 Professor Guðjónsson was the Head of Forensic Psychology Services for Lambeth Forensic Services and Medium Secure Services at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (SLaM). He is a Chartered Psychologist and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, a registered practitioner (clinical and forensic) with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and an honorary consultant clinical and forensic psychologist at Broadmoor Maximum Security Hospital.Professor Guðjónsson was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Medicine in 2001 by the University of Iceland for services to forensic psychiatry and psychology. In April 2009 the British Psychological Society presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his exceptionally significant and sustained contribution to the practice of psychology. He was awarded the European Association of Psychology and Law (EAPL) Life Time Achievement Award for 2012. Professor Guðjónsson was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen’s Birthday 2011 Honours List for services to clinical psychology.