Forensic Psychology

Question 1

It is the application of psychological methods and principles within the legal system—dates back nearly to the origins of psychology as a recognized science.

Answer 1

Forensic psychology

Question 2

They are involved in researching and applying psychological science to issues such as jury selection and jury dynamics

Answer 2

Social psychologists

Question 3

They bring their expertise to bear on the issues of eyewitness testimony and its
accuracy.

Answer 3

Cognitive psychologists

Question 4

They are especially qualified for and often involved in forensic psychology activities because of their extensive training in assessment, treatment, and psychopathology

Answer 4

Clinical psychologists

Question 5

Otto and Heilbrun (2002) called __________________ “the psychological assessment of persons for the purpose of assisting the legal fact finder”

Answer 5

forensic psychological assessment

Question 6

“the good feelings and positive relationships common in the psychotherapeutic relationship do not exist in the ______________”

Answer 6

forensic setting

Question 7

When conducting forensic assessments, clinical psychologists must interact with clients in a “________, ________, and _______” manner rather than the “supportive, empathic” approach they might take in most other clinical setting

Answer 7

detached, neutral, and objective

Question 8

Three important skills of forensic psychologists

Answer 8

• knowledge of the legal issues
• addressing the demands of the legal system
• litigation (involvement in court cases)

Question 9

This skill involve an understanding of criminal responsibility, the definition of competency, and the definition of insanity.

Answer 9

knowledge of the legal issues

Question 10

This skill often entails striving for neutrality regarding a client, predicting the future as well as possible, and gathering data about the case in a thorough and unbiased way.

Answer 10

addressing the demands of the legal system

Question 11

This skill involves an understanding of each attorney’s strategy, providing appropriate testimony, and deferring to others involved in the case when appropriate

Answer 11

litigation

Question 12

An issue that arises with greater frequency in forensic psychology than in clinical psychology more generally is ___________, in which the person being evaluated exaggerates or “fakes” symptoms in order to achieve some benefit

Answer 12

malingering

Question 13

Clinical psychologists are often recruited to assist in ____________________, especially when the individual has a history of mental illness in addition to aggressive behavior

Answer 13

predicting dangerousness

Question 14

Two categories to assess potential for future danger:

Answer 14

• clinical prediction methods
• statistical prediction methods/actuarial prediction methods

Question 15

In this method, assessors use psychological tests, clinical interviews, clinical experience, and their personal judgments to make determinations of future dangerousness.

Answer 15

clinical prediction method

Question 16

In this method, assessors predict dangerousness according to a statistical or actuarial formula compiled from a comparison of an individual’s characteristics with known correlations to future dangerousness

Answer 16

statistical prediction methods

Question 17

Type of variable in the statistical method, such as age, race, sex, social class, and personality variables

Answer 17

dispositional variables

Question 18

Type of variable in the statistical method, such as such as history of violence, work history, mental health history, and criminal history

Answer 18

historical variables

Question 19

Type of variable in the statistical method, such as current social supports, presence or availability of weapons,
and current stress level

Answer 19

contextual variables

Question 20

Type of variable in the statistical method, such as current mental disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, and overall level of functioning

Answer 20

clinical variables

Question 21

Clinical method: ____________
Statistical method: _____________

Answer 21

subjective
objective

Question 22

Factors associated with dangerousness in the empirical literature include

Answer 22

• age
• arrest record
• weapon availability
• social support
• psychological symptoms

Question 23

TRUE OR FALSE. Younger people are at higher risk of dangerous behaviors.

Answer 23

True

Question 24

TRUE OR FALSE. Those with psychosis symptoms are at a lower risk of dangerous behaviors.

Answer 24

False, those with psychosis symptoms are at a HIGHER risk.

Question 25

One of the most significant challenges associated with predicting dangerousness is the ________________ problem. It is the report on the incidence of something.

Answer 25

base rate

Question 26

attempt to accurately identify those who actually will become dangerous

Answer 26

“true-positive” prediction

Question 27

attempt to identify who will not become dangerous

Answer 27

“true-negative” prediction

Question 28

leaning toward identifying someone as more likely to be violent than he or she really is

Answer 28

“false-positive” prediction

Question 29

the cost of identifying someone as less violent than he or she really is

Answer 29

“false-negative” prediction

Question 30

If an individual was unable to control their actions due to a mental disorder—even if such actions were criminal in nature—the individual would not be held responsible for the crime but would rather be found _________________________________.

Answer 30

not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI)

Question 31

It is the first legal standard for the insanity defense in the history of the American legal system, emerged during the mid-19th century

Answer 31

M’Naghten test

Question 32

According to this test, it was argued that a person was legally insane if the person was unable to control his or her behavior even when a police officer was at his or her elbow

Answer 32

“policeman at the elbow” or “irresistible impulse” test

Question 33

It was instituted by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in Durham v. United States (1954). The court wrote, “An accused is not criminally responsible if his unlawful act was the product of mental disease or defect”

Answer 33

the “product test”

Question 34

It is an area fraught with challenges due to the importance of the decision and the competing interests of the parents.

Answer 34

child custody

Question 35

Custody decisions are made based on a legal principle known as the “_________________________________.”

Answer 35

best interest of the child doctrine

Question 36

It is a neutral party, often an attorney unaffiliated with either parent, appointed to avoid decisions being made by individuals who would have conflicts of interest.

Answer 36

guardian ad litem

Question 37

In this standard, a defendant must have “sufficient present ability to consult with his attorney with a reasonable degree of rational understanding and a rational as well as factual understanding of proceedings against him”

Answer 37

competency-to-stand-trial standard

Question 38

It is a process by which a person is involuntarily hospitalized by civil authorities for the welfare of the person and others.

Answer 38

Civil commitment

Question 39

The four basic therapy tasks of a clinical psychologist when working with criminal offenders:

Answer 39

• crisis management
• maintenance
• outpatient psychotherapy
• targeted programs

Question 40

These treatments are implemented when there is a crisis of some type. This would include someone engaging in self-harming or violent behaviors. Treatments of this type are brief, followed by a referral to long-range treatments.

Answer 40

Management treatments

Question 41

These treatments are used with incarcerated individuals who have more long-standing problems such as intellectual disability and schizophrenia, and they often are held and treated in special housing units

Answer 41

Maintenance treatments

Question 42

These treatments are used with prison populations, and successes or failures occur much as they do in more traditional settings

Answer 42

outpatient psychotherapy

Question 43

From a rehabilitation perspective, _____________________ is a primary goal with all treatment interventions used in a prison population

Answer 43

reduced recidivism

Question 44

Clinical psychologists, along with psychiatrists and social workers, are the professionals who most commonly provide expert testimony to the court about mental health issues

Answer 44

Expert witnesses

Question 45

In this process, the expert’s education, training, and professional experiences are examined before they are approved for the court

Answer 45

voir dire

Question 46

An important concern for clinical psychologists serving as expert witnesses is the ______________ of their testimony. In other words, what are the standards by which their testimony will be allowed or disallowed into the legal proceedings?

Answer 46

admissibility

Question 47

In this standard, expert scientific testimony was admissible in court if it was generally accepted in the expert’s field

Answer 47

Frye test

Question 48

Under this new and current standard, the admissibility of evidence or testimony in court is based on its reliability and validityrather than its general acceptance in the field.

Answer 48

Daubert standards or Federal Rules of Evidence standards

Question 49

It is an especially stressful component of providing expert testimony, because it requires expert witnesses to defend their statements in response to challenging questions posed by opposing attorneys.

Answer 49

Cross-examination

Question 50

The new psychiatric medications of the 1950s caused long-term side effects such as _______________, with its lifelong symptoms of repetitive and involuntary movements, primarily of the face.

Answer 50

tardive dyskinesia

Question 51

In this procedure, the prefrontal cortex of the brain was purposefully damaged in the hope that the patient’s maladaptive behaviors would decrease. Although normally reserved for the most disturbed patients, they were also used on patients with serious intellectual limitations, despite lack of scientific evidence that they were effective on any group of patients

Answer 51

lobotomy

Question 52

Of all the ways psychologists work with police departments, conducting _________________ is the most common

Answer 52

preemployment evaluations

Question 53

These are another type of assessment that clinical psychologists conduct with police personnel. These evaluations are usually requested after an extremely stressful experience by an officer, such as being shot or witnessing traumatic events in the line of duty. They are also sometimes used to assess whether an officer is able to continue working while he or she is receiving psychotherapy or medications for depression, anxiety, or other psychological problems. These evaluations are often more extensive than the preemployment exams

Answer 53

Fitness-for-duty evaluations

Question 54

He was among the first major promoters of the use of psychology in the legal arena.

Answer 54

Hugo Munsterberg

Question 55

______________________ is a prevalent activity among clinical psychologists who work in forensic settings.

Answer 55

Clinical assessment