Law and human behavior: Reflections on its creation and future.

This article reflects on Law and Human Behavior's creation and a potential direction for its evolution. It starts by recounting seminal events in the journal's creation and its relationship to the creation of Psychology, Public Policy, and Law. It then argues that the time has come for the journal to stimulate and systematically publish empirical research on the operation of all criminal and civil law and its relationships to human behavior. The resulting refocusing and writings will advance our understanding of law in books and law in action, as well as why psychological science is critical to understanding law, and highlight potential opportunities for improving law domestically and globally. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).