Question 1

Regarding the scientific validity of BWS, all of the following statements are correct, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

There has not been a great deal of follow-up research to support the validity of BWS, and it remains a controversial and debated concept in the scientific community.

Question 2

A study cited in the text found that the most likely combination to sway jurors towards more lenient sentencing for a battered woman who killed her abusive husband is expert testimony on _____ combined with a(n) _____ instruction.

Accepted Answer

Expert testimony on Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS) combined with a judicial nullification instruction has been found to be the most effective combination in swaying jurors towards more lenient sentencing for a battered woman who killed her abusive husband.

Question 3

A judge would often refuse to allow experts to present information about RTS to the jury. All of the following would be typical reasons for the judge's decision, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

RTS (Rape Trauma Syndrome) testimony is generally related to explaining the psychological impact of rape on victims, not the competence of the defendant. Therefore, a judge would not typically refuse RTS testimony on the grounds that it might lead to a successful plea of incompetence, as this does not directly relate to the purpose or content of RTS testimony.

Question 4

According to the text, jurors appear to be _____ inclined toward women who kill their partners _____.

Accepted Answer

Jurors tend to have a negative inclination towards women who kill their partners, even when there is evidence of abuse, possibly due to biases or preconceived notions about self-defense and domestic violence.

Question 5

Self-defense can be used in a court of law when a woman is facing charges as a result of killing her batterer. However, specific criteria need to be met to plead self-defense. Which of the following does NOT meet the requirements of self-defense?

Accepted Answer

Self-defense requires an immediate threat of harm, and the perception of danger when the abuser is asleep does not meet the criteria for imminent danger necessary to justify self-defense.

Question 6

Some experts argue that, in battered woman cases, expert testimony should focus on the social reality of the woman's situation rather than on her psychological reactions. Which of the following is NOT a question that such social agency framework (SAF) testimony would raise?

Accepted Answer

SAF testimony emphasizes understanding the social context and constraints faced by the woman, such as police response, risks of leaving, and availability of resources, rather than focusing on the abuser's personal traits like charm or charisma.

Question 7

Because BWS and RTS are often difficult for the _____ to integrate into a trial, many have advocated for testimony about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) instead. One reason why the use of this diagnosis proves to be more helpful in cases in which a victim kills her abuser is that _____.

Accepted Answer

PTSD is better established as a mental disorder, making it more recognizable and understandable in legal contexts compared to Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS) and Rape Trauma Syndrome (RTS), which can be more challenging for the defense to integrate into a trial.

Question 8

According to the text, most rapes are committed by _____, with only approximately 15% of rapes being committed by _____.

Accepted Answer

Most rapes are committed by acquaintances of the victims, not by strangers. The statistic that only about 15% of rapes are committed by strangers highlights the misconception that strangers are the most common perpetrators, when in fact, people known to the victim are more often responsible.

Question 9

After enduring years of abuse including regular beatings and humiliation from her alcoholic husband, Antoinette killed him one day after he fell asleep on the couch in a drunken haze. Now Antoinette is on trial for her husband's murder. The most likely verdict jurors would reach in this case is:

Accepted Answer

Antoinette's actions, despite the abuse she suffered, constitute premeditated murder as she killed her husband while he was asleep and not posing an immediate threat. This makes a guilty verdict the most likely outcome.

Question 10

Studies have found that women who used violence against their abusers were likely to be found _____ in a jury trial, and expert testimony on BWS was likely to _____.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that women who used violence against their abusers were often found guilty, and expert testimony on Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS) was likely to make little difference in the outcome.

Question 11

Rape shield laws were put in place in the 1970s, to prevent lawyers from examining the sexual history of _____ at trial.

Accepted Answer

Rape shield laws were specifically designed to protect the alleged victim from having their sexual history scrutinized in court, aiming to make the legal process less traumatic and more focused on the incident in question rather than the victim's past sexual behavior.

Question 12

Judicial nullification instruction can best be described as an instruction that lets jurors know that they can _____ a strict interpretation of the law _____ that legal interpretation would result in an unjust verdict.

Accepted Answer

Judicial nullification instruction allows jurors to disregard a strict interpretation of the law if following it would lead to an unjust verdict. This acknowledges the jury's power to judge the law itself, not just the facts of the case.

Question 13

The use of BWS in courts _____ BWS has been widely _____ by the scientific community.

Accepted Answer

BWS (Battered Woman Syndrome) continues to be used in courts despite being criticized and seen as controversial by the scientific community. This reflects the ongoing debate and scrutiny over its application and validity in legal contexts.

Question 14

The term rape trauma syndrome (RTS) can best be described as a(n):

Accepted Answer

Rape trauma syndrome (RTS) is recognized as a cluster of symptoms that are observed in many, though not all, survivors of rape and attempted rape. These symptoms can include physical, psychological, and behavioral changes. RTS is not an established legal term or a formally accepted medical diagnosis in the sense of being listed in diagnostic manuals like the DSM-5. It is specifically related to rape victims, not all victims of abuse, making it distinct from broader terms that might apply to various forms of abuse.

Question 15

Which of the following statements correctly describes the current state of BWS acceptance?

Accepted Answer

Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS) is accepted by many practitioners as a useful framework for understanding the experiences of abused women, but it has also faced criticism from researchers for its limitations and lack of empirical support.

Question 16

According to the original formulation of the rape trauma syndrome by Burgess and Holmstorm (1979), the first phase of the victim's recovery typically includes _____, and the second phase often includes _____.

Accepted Answer

The original formulation of the rape trauma syndrome by Burgess and Holmstrom (1979) describes the first phase as involving severe physical and emotional disturbances, and the second phase often includes self-blame as the victim processes the trauma.

Question 17

Rape trauma syndrome (RTS) has been:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rape trauma syndrome (RTS) has been:
...

Question 18

According to Burgess and Holmstorm (1979) who coined the term RTS, _____ of rape victims report that they still have not recovered 5 years after the incident.

Accepted Answer

About a quarter of rape victims report that they still have not recovered 5 years after the incident.

Question 19

Legal scholars who criticize the scientific validity of BWS have noted that it also had some positive effects on the legal system. Which of the following is NOT one of these positive effects?

Accepted Answer

The positive effects of Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS) on the legal system include raising awareness about domestic violence (A), stimulating research on relationship violence (B), and exposing outdated and sexist legal standards (C). However, the statement that it led to more women being acquitted than convicted (D) does not describe a systemic effect on the legal system's approach or understanding, but rather an outcome in specific cases, which does not directly relate to the scientific validity or the broader positive impacts of BWS on legal practices and principles.

Question 20

Burgess and Holmstorm (1979) have described recovery from rape as a two-stage process consisting of the _____ phase and the _____ phase.

Accepted Answer

Burgess and Holmstrom (1979) describe recovery from rape as a two-stage process consisting of the acute crisis phase and the reorganization phase.

Quiz 11: Battered Woman Syndrome, Rape Trauma Syndrome, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Regarding the scientific validity of BWS, all of the following statements are correct, EXCEPT:

A study cited in the text found that the most likely combination to sway jurors towards more lenient sentencing for a battered woman who killed her abusive husband is expert testimony on _ combined with a(n) _ instruction.

A judge would often refuse to allow experts to present information about RTS to the jury. All of the following would be typical reasons for the judge's decision, EXCEPT:

According to the text, jurors appear to be _ inclined toward women who kill their partners _.

Self-defense can be used in a court of law when a woman is facing charges as a result of killing her batterer. However, specific criteria need to be met to plead self-defense. Which of the following does NOT meet the requirements of self-defense?

Some experts argue that, in battered woman cases, expert testimony should focus on the social reality of the woman's situation rather than on her psychological reactions. Which of the following is NOT a question that such social agency framework (SAF) testimony would raise?

Because BWS and RTS are often difficult for the _ to integrate into a trial, many have advocated for testimony about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) instead. One reason why the use of this diagnosis proves to be more helpful in cases in which a victim kills her abuser is that _.

According to the text, most rapes are committed by _, with only approximately 15% of rapes being committed by _.

After enduring years of abuse including regular beatings and humiliation from her alcoholic husband, Antoinette killed him one day after he fell asleep on the couch in a drunken haze. Now Antoinette is on trial for her husband's murder. The most likely verdict jurors would reach in this case is:

Studies have found that women who used violence against their abusers were likely to be found _ in a jury trial, and expert testimony on BWS was likely to _.

Rape shield laws were put in place in the 1970s, to prevent lawyers from examining the sexual history of _____ at trial.

Judicial nullification instruction can best be described as an instruction that lets jurors know that they can _ a strict interpretation of the law _ that legal interpretation would result in an unjust verdict.

The use of BWS in courts _ BWS has been widely _ by the scientific community.

The term rape trauma syndrome (RTS) can best be described as a(n) :

Which of the following statements correctly describes the current state of BWS acceptance?

According to the original formulation of the rape trauma syndrome by Burgess and Holmstorm (1979) , the first phase of the victim's recovery typically includes _, and the second phase often includes _.

Rape trauma syndrome (RTS) has been:

According to Burgess and Holmstorm (1979) who coined the term RTS, _____ of rape victims report that they still have not recovered 5 years after the incident.

Legal scholars who criticize the scientific validity of BWS have noted that it also had some positive effects on the legal system. Which of the following is NOT one of these positive effects?

Burgess and Holmstorm (1979) have described recovery from rape as a two-stage process consisting of the _ phase and the _ phase.

Quiz 11: Battered Woman Syndrome, Rape Trauma Syndrome, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Regarding the scientific validity of BWS, all of the following statements are correct, EXCEPT:

A study cited in the text found that the most likely combination to sway jurors towards more lenient sentencing for a battered woman who killed her abusive husband is expert testimony on _____ combined with a(n) _____ instruction.

A judge would often refuse to allow experts to present information about RTS to the jury. All of the following would be typical reasons for the judge's decision, EXCEPT:

According to the text, jurors appear to be _____ inclined toward women who kill their partners _____.

Self-defense can be used in a court of law when a woman is facing charges as a result of killing her batterer. However, specific criteria need to be met to plead self-defense. Which of the following does NOT meet the requirements of self-defense?

Some experts argue that, in battered woman cases, expert testimony should focus on the social reality of the woman's situation rather than on her psychological reactions. Which of the following is NOT a question that such social agency framework (SAF) testimony would raise?

Because BWS and RTS are often difficult for the _____ to integrate into a trial, many have advocated for testimony about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) instead. One reason why the use of this diagnosis proves to be more helpful in cases in which a victim kills her abuser is that _____.

According to the text, most rapes are committed by _____, with only approximately 15% of rapes being committed by _____.

After enduring years of abuse including regular beatings and humiliation from her alcoholic husband, Antoinette killed him one day after he fell asleep on the couch in a drunken haze. Now Antoinette is on trial for her husband's murder. The most likely verdict jurors would reach in this case is:

Studies have found that women who used violence against their abusers were likely to be found _____ in a jury trial, and expert testimony on BWS was likely to _____.

Rape shield laws were put in place in the 1970s, to prevent lawyers from examining the sexual history of _____ at trial.

Judicial nullification instruction can best be described as an instruction that lets jurors know that they can _____ a strict interpretation of the law _____ that legal interpretation would result in an unjust verdict.

The use of BWS in courts _____ BWS has been widely _____ by the scientific community.

The term rape trauma syndrome (RTS) can best be described as a(n) :

Which of the following statements correctly describes the current state of BWS acceptance?

According to the original formulation of the rape trauma syndrome by Burgess and Holmstorm (1979) , the first phase of the victim's recovery typically includes _____, and the second phase often includes _____.

Rape trauma syndrome (RTS) has been:

According to Burgess and Holmstorm (1979) who coined the term RTS, _____ of rape victims report that they still have not recovered 5 years after the incident.

Legal scholars who criticize the scientific validity of BWS have noted that it also had some positive effects on the legal system. Which of the following is NOT one of these positive effects?

Burgess and Holmstorm (1979) have described recovery from rape as a two-stage process consisting of the _____ phase and the _____ phase.

A study cited in the text found that the most likely combination to sway jurors towards more lenient sentencing for a battered woman who killed her abusive husband is expert testimony on _ combined with a(n) _ instruction.

According to the text, jurors appear to be _ inclined toward women who kill their partners _.

Because BWS and RTS are often difficult for the _ to integrate into a trial, many have advocated for testimony about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) instead. One reason why the use of this diagnosis proves to be more helpful in cases in which a victim kills her abuser is that _.

According to the text, most rapes are committed by _, with only approximately 15% of rapes being committed by _.

Studies have found that women who used violence against their abusers were likely to be found _ in a jury trial, and expert testimony on BWS was likely to _.

Judicial nullification instruction can best be described as an instruction that lets jurors know that they can _ a strict interpretation of the law _ that legal interpretation would result in an unjust verdict.

The use of BWS in courts _ BWS has been widely _ by the scientific community.

According to the original formulation of the rape trauma syndrome by Burgess and Holmstorm (1979) , the first phase of the victim's recovery typically includes _, and the second phase often includes _.

Burgess and Holmstorm (1979) have described recovery from rape as a two-stage process consisting of the _ phase and the _ phase.