Psy 356 Test 5/Final

What is required to determine competency to stand trial?

Rational understanding of the proceedings (Dusky v. United States, 1960)

What did Wyatt v. Stickney (1970-2003) establish?

minimum standards for mental health care in institutions

what is the ruling in Jackson v. Indiana (1972)?

a person cannot be held indefinitely based solely on incompetence

what are the limits set by O’Connor v. Donaldson (1975)?

limits on voluntary commitment for non-dangerous individuals

what is required for civil commitment according to Addington v. Texas (1979)?

clear and convincing evidence

what constitutional right was upheld in Estelle v. Smith (1981)?

the Fifth Amendment applies to psychiatric evaluations

what right was affirmed in Youngberg v. Romeo (1982)?

the right to safe confinement conditions

what did Riggins v. Nevada (1992) rule about forced medication?

the state cannot force medication solely to ensure trial competency

what does Godinez v. Moran (1993) confirm about competency?

competency to stand trial implies competency to plead guilty

what is prohibited by Atkins v. Virginia (2002)?

the execution of individuals with intellectual disabilities

what did Roper v. Simmons (2005) rule about the death penalty?

the death penalty is prohibited for crimes committed by minors

what did Graham v. Florida (2010) decide about life sentences?

life without parole is unconstitutional for juveniles in non-homicide cases

what is the most common disorder encountered by law enforcement?

schizophrenia

what is the typical onset age for schizophrenia?

late teens to mid-30s

what are common comorbidities of schizophrenia?

tobacco use disorder, anxiety disorders, OCD, personality disorders

what is a key feature of paranoid personality disorder?

unwarranted suspicion and reluctance to trust others

what are the diagnostic criteria for antisocial personality disorder?

pattern of disregard for others’ rights, starting at age 15, with at least three symptoms

what characterizes borderline personality disorder?

instability in relationships, self-image, and impulsivity

what are core symptoms of anxiety?

physical tension, cognitive shifts, and behavioral patterns related to perceived threats

what are the key symptoms of depression?

sadness, anhedonia, sleep/appetite changes, cognitive issues, and agitation

what are common symptoms of PTSD?

avoidance behavior, re-experiencing trauma, emotional distress, heightened arousal, emotional numbing

what characterizes bipolar disorder?

periods of elevated mood, decreased need for sleep, and increased activity

what are signs of autism?

challenges in communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors

what substances are life-threatening if withdraw abruptly?

alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opiates

what is a dual diagnosis?

a condition where a person has both a mental health disorder and a substance abuse disorder

what is a tort?

a civil wrong where one person sues another for harm, often for money; includes intentional acts and negligence

what are the 3 elements of a tort (“4 Ds”)?

Duty, Dereliction (breach of duty), damages, and cause

what do forensic psychologists do in personal injury cases?

evaluate psychological injuries, assess credibility, and provide expert testimony

what was the issue in Carter v. General Motors (1960)?

emotional distress was recognized as a legitimate legal harm

what happened in Christie Bros Circus v. Turnage (1928)?

a woman sued for humiliation after a horse defecated on her; court awarded damages for emotional distress

what was the court’s decision in Gough v. Natural Gas Pipeline Co. (1993)?

Gough was 35% at fault but still awarded $2 million for PTSD and lost earnings capacity

what made Molien v. Kaiser Foundation Hospital (1980) significant?

court allowed damages for emotional distress from a misdiagnosis that ruined a marriage

what was at issue in Molzof v. US (1991-1992)?

negligence at a VA hospital caused brain damage; court allowed suit for wrongful injury

what is the “Eggshell Skull Rule”?

defendants are fully liable even if the plaintiff had pre-existing vulnerabilities

what is the “Crumbling Skull” concept?

defendants are only liable for the harm they caused or worsened in a deteriorating condition

what does the “but for” test ask?

would the injury have happened but for the defendant’s actions?

what is Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress (NIED)?

emotional suffering caused by someone else’s negligence without physical harm

what precedent did Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad set?

Introduced the “zone of danger” rule for NIED claims

what did Dillon v. Legg allow?

Bystanders outside the danger zone can claim emotional distress if they witnessed trauma

what are compensable damages in tort law?

physical, emotional, or financial harms that can be evaluated and awarded

what’s the main challenge in emotional injury cases?

courts struggle with proving emotional harm like PTSD compared to physical injuries

what’s the role of forensic psychologists in tort cases?

consultant (non-testifying) or examining expert (testifying about evaluations)

why might a consultant psychologist not testify in court?

due to bias from working closely with the attorney on strategy

what standard did Daubert (1993) establish?

expert testimony must be scientific, peer-reviewed, reliable, and relevant

what did Frye (1923) require of expert testimony?

general acceptance in the relevant scientific community

what are common psychological tests used in injury evaluations?

MMPI-2, PAI, WAIS-IV, and WMS-IV

what does a personal injury forensic evaluation include?

document review, clinical interview, psychological testing, collateral interviews

what are the key deliverables from a forensic psychologist?

written report, deposition testimony, court testimony, or private communication

what does “damage does not equal disorder” mean?

psychological harm can exist without meeting criteria for a formal diagnosis

why is the role of forensic/clinical corrections officer important?

justice-involved individuals are vulnerable, often traumatized, and few people are willing to do the challenging work

what is the psychological impact of high-stress environments on first responders?

higher rates of mental health issues and suicide than the general population

what percentage of police officers have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event?

about 75%

common outcomes for officers after trauma?

isolaion, job troubles, substance use, or leaving the agency

PTSD rates in Canadian study: police, corrections, military?

Police (32%), Corrections Officers (26%), Military Veterans (8%)

what is a key mental health concern related to use of force?

psychological trauma and its aftermath

what are critical features of a successful EAP in corrections?

24/7 access, staff trained in correctional systems, and treatment for mental health/substance abuse

what are barriers to EAP use among corrections officers?

confidentiality concerns (20%), fear of management consequences (15%), coworker judgment (13%), job loss fears (11%)

what percentage of police officers have used EAP services?

only 16.2%

what percentage of police officers knew how to access EAP?

about 50%

what is forensic victimology?

the scientific study of victims for investigative and forensic purposes

what are the two main approaches in forensic victimology?

idiographic (individual-focused) and Nomothetic (Group pattern-focused)

who are the key consumers of forensic victimology?

law enforcement, legal professionals, and public policy makers

what victim theory did Hans von Hentig propose?

13 categories of victims based on their characteristics and vulnerability

what contribution did Benjamin Mendelsohn make to victimology?

he classified victims by degrees of culpability in their victimization

define victim precipitation, facilitation, and provocation

precipitation: victim initiates the event

facilitation: victim increases risk unintentionally

provocation: victim incites the offender

what is the victim-offender overlap?

many offenders were previously victims themselves (e.g., Terrance Williams)

what is Sampson & Lauritsen’s homogamy theory?

people who share routines or environments with offenders are more likely to be victimized

what did Mustaine and Tewksbury emphasize in victim-offender dynamics?

role differentiation between victims and offenders

how do FBI/UCR and NCVS differ in reporting hate crimes?

FBI/UCR: relies on police reports, often undercounts

NCVS: based on self-report, often reports 2-3x more hate crimes

what defines a federal hate crime?

a crime motivated by bias against a protected class (e.g., race, religion, sexual orientation)

what is a common tactic used in human trafficking?

luring individuals with false promises of jobs or education, then exploiting them

name 3 consequences of victimization?

physical injury or death, psychological disorders (e.g., PTSD), and chronic victimization patterns

what is a trauma-informed approach in victimology?

it accounts for trauma symptoms like memory fragmentation and avoids assuming deception from withdrawal

what role does a clinician play in forensic victimology?

assess behavior in the context of trauma, not only through diagnostic labels

how should law enforcement approach fragmented or changing victim accounts?

avoid premature conclusions; trauma may affect memory and disclosure

what is the forensic psychologist’s role in court regarding victim trauma?

educate the court on trauma’s effect on memory and behavior

what is an idiographic victim profile?

a profile that details the specific characteristics of an actual individual victim

what is a nomothetic victim profile?

a profile based on general patterns among groups of victims; not tied to a specific case

what is the purpose of creating a victim profile?

understand the crime; build a timeline; narrow the suspect pool; support crime reconstruction; assist in developing offender M.O. and motive

name two harmful theories in victimology

victim precipitation theory and deviant place theory

define the “belief in a just world” and its danger in forensic work

the false belief that people get what they deserve; can lead to victim blaming

what is confirmation bias in forensic psychology?

the tendency to focus on evidence that confirms preexisting beliefs, ignoring contradictions

how can contextual bias affect forensic evidence analysis?

extraneous info (e.g., a cover letter suggesting guilt) can skew lab results and interpretations

what is the “curse of knowledge” in forensic victimology?

once someone knows information, they can’t unknow it - can bias interpretation of new evidence

what are the core standards forensic victimologists must follow?

avoid bias; use the scientific method; visit crime scenes; request full evidence; provide written, logically supported conclusions

what are the key evidence “packages” in a victim profile?

personal, digital, medical, financial, employment, residence, relationship, court

what are the 5 main uses of victim packages?

daily routines; family/friends/coworker contact lists; event timeline; behavioral patterns; investigative insight