W12 Legal and Ethical Issues Flashcards
What historical concerns arose regarding psychological testing after World War I?
Tests developed for military use were adapted for schools and industry, leading to increased public concern about their appropriateness and application.
What prompted the U.S. government to increase testing in schools?
The launch of Sputnik led to an emphasis on identifying talented students through ability testing.
What are the three levels of psychological tests according to the APA Committee on Ethical Standards?
Level A: Basic tests requiring manual administration;
Level B: Tests needing technical knowledge;
Level C: Tests requiring substantial understanding and supervised experience.
What are key concerns when testing individuals with disabilities?
Adapting tests for accessibility, transforming responses for scoring, and interpreting data meaningfully.
What issues arise from computerized test administration?
Concerns include comparability to traditional tests, value of interpretations, and the risk of unregulated online testing.
What rights do test-takers have?
Right to know the purpose of evaluation, how data will be used, informed consent, and confidentiality.
What is the APS Ethical Decision-Making Model?
- Recognize the ethical issue;
- Clarify the issues;
- Generate and examine options;
- Choose and implement a preferred option;
- Reflect and review the process.
What moral issues impact psychological practice?
Human rights, labelling, invasion of privacy, and divided loyalties.
What is the legal definition of insanity?
A legal term indicating a disordered mind unable to formulate or carry out a crime, not a psychological diagnosis.
What is mens rea?
The concept of ‘guilty mind’ indicating that a crime cannot occur without intent.
What landmark case established the M’Naghten rule?
R v M’Naghten (1843), defining insanity in legal terms based on understanding the nature of the act.
What does the Mental Health Court in Queensland assess?
Whether individuals alleged to have committed an indictable offence were of unsound mind or unfit for trial.
What decisions can the Mental Health Court make?
Findings of unsoundness of mind, fitness for trial, or unfitness for trial.
What are issues related to civil commitment?
Challenges in predicting dangerousness and protecting the rights of individuals with psychological disorders.
What was the significance of the Tarasoff case?
It raised important questions about the duty to warn and protect potential victims in the context of mental health.
