Legal and Ethical Issues in Abnormal Psychology异常心理的法律和道德问题.pptVIP

Legal and Ethical Issues in Abnormal PsychologyChapter 17 Legal and Ethical Issues Psychologists play a role in determining defendants’ state of mind in criminal actions. Psychologists participate in legal decisions and legal actions such as custody issues and jury selection. Psychologists evaluate competency and other issues related to criminal cases. Psychologists offer expert opinions on child custody, organic brain functioning, traumatic injury, suicide, deprogramming. Criminal Commitment Criminal Commitment: Incarceration of an individual for having committed a crime. Criminal law recognizes that some people lack the ability to discern the ramifications of their actions because they are mentally disturbed. The Insanity Defense Insanity Defense: Legal argument used by defendants who admit they committed a crime but plead not guilty because they were mentally disturbed at the time the crime was committed “Faking it:” How easily can professionals be fooled? Insanity Defense: Legal Precedents M’Naghten Rule (the “right-wrong test”): Cognitive test of legal insanity A person can be acquitted of a crime if it can be shown that, at the time of the act: Defendant’s reasoning was so defective that he/she did not know what he/she was doing (nature of the act). The defendant was unable to comprehend that the act was wrong (quality of the act). Insanity Defense: Legal Precedents Irresistible Impulse Test: Defendant is not criminally responsible if he/she lacked the will power to control his/her behavior. What is the difference between a truly irresistible impulse and one unresisted? Is a person with a history of antisocial behavior unable to resists impulses or are they choosing not to exert control of their impulses? Insanity Defense: Legal Precedents Durham Standard: The products test Accused is not responsible if the unlawful act was the product of mental disease or defect. Gives responsibility to mental health professionals to make this determination. Both defense