FREE Bachelor of Arts in Psychology: Intersection of Psychology and Legal System Questions and Answers Flashcards
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Which U.S. Supreme Court case established the standard for evaluating the admissibility of expert psychological testimony in federal courts?
Answer: Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals
Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals (1993) set the standard requiring that expert testimony, including psychological evidence, be based on reliable scientific methodology.
What is the primary purpose of a forensic psychological evaluation in a child custody dispute?
Answer: To assess the best interests of the child based on psychological factors
Forensic custody evaluations focus on assessing psychological factors relevant to the best interests of the child, including parental fitness and parent-child attachment.
What does the term 'diminished capacity' refer to in the legal system?
Answer: A mental condition that impairs a defendant's ability to form the specific intent required for a crime
Diminished capacity is a defense arguing that a mental condition prevented the defendant from forming the specific mental state required for the charged offense.
Which psychological instrument is most widely used in forensic settings to assess malingering of cognitive impairment?
Answer: Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM)
The Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) is specifically designed to detect individuals who are faking or exaggerating cognitive deficits in forensic evaluations.
In the context of therapeutic jurisprudence, what is the primary goal of mental health courts?
Answer: To divert individuals with mental illness from incarceration into community-based treatment
Mental health courts use a therapeutic jurisprudence approach to redirect mentally ill offenders toward treatment programs rather than traditional incarceration.
What ethical obligation does the Tarasoff ruling impose on mental health professionals?
Answer: A duty to warn or protect identifiable potential victims of a client's serious threats
The Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California ruling established that therapists have a duty to warn or protect identifiable third parties when a client poses a credible threat of violence.