Question 1

Generally speaking, in the past when a marriage was dissolved, custody was granted to

Accepted Answer

B

Question 2

The Tender Years Doctrine

Accepted Answer

The Tender Years Doctrine posited that during their early, formative years, children would be better off under the care of their mothers. This principle influenced custody decisions by favoring mothers over fathers, reflecting societal beliefs about gender roles and caregiving during the time it was prevalent.

Question 3

In the 1970's, the "best interests of the child" doctrine

Accepted Answer

The "best interests of the child" doctrine in the 1970s challenged maternal preference rules, influenced the reduction of alimony in divorce cases, and shaped the criteria used by mental health professionals in custody evaluations, reflecting a holistic approach to family law that prioritizes the child's welfare in various legal contexts.

Question 4

Several problems created by vague best interest standards are

Accepted Answer

The vague nature of best interest standards in custody cases can lead to unpredictability in outcomes and inconsistencies across similar cases, which can appear unfair.

Question 5

The Primary Care Doctrine was a doctrine that_______ 	and was _______

Accepted Answer

The Primary Care Doctrine replaced the Tender Years Doctrine, recognizing the importance of the mother's role while also considering the involvement of fathers in their children's lives, thus moving towards a more equitable approach in custody decisions.

Question 6

The children of fathers who have sole custody

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that children in the custody of single fathers often fare better in various aspects, including fewer behavioral problems and better academic performance, compared to children raised by single mothers. This can be attributed to factors such as potentially higher income levels and stability in single-father households.

Question 7

Advocates recommend joint custody because

Accepted Answer

Joint custody is recommended because it increases the child's social support and provides positive role models, but it does not necessarily ensure greater financial stability.

Question 8

Some clinicians and lawyers are against joint custody because

Accepted Answer

The answer of Some clinicians and lawyers are against joint...

Question 9

The growing influence of developmental psychology has led courts to give greater consideration to

Accepted Answer

The growing influence of developmental psychology emphasizes the importance of the child's emotional and psychological well-being, leading courts to consider the child's attachments and preferences, often favoring the psychological parent in custody decisions.

Question 10

The APA, The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, The National Association of Social Workers, and the Virginia Psychological Association, researched the effects of gay parenting upon children. They discovered that

Accepted Answer

Research by these organizations has found that there is no significant difference in psychological health or sexual orientation between children raised by homosexual parents and those raised by heterosexual parents.

Question 11

Problems with the above research may include

Accepted Answer

Both choices A and B describe potential biases in the research sample. A) suggests a selection bias where parents of children who are doing well might be more inclined to participate, possibly skewing results to appear more positive. B) indicates a response bias where homosexual parents might respond more favorably or be more willing to participate if they perceive the researcher as supportive, which could also affect the study's outcomes.

Question 12

When determining whether or not a parent is fit to have custody over a child, if a parent has a mental illness,

Accepted Answer

The court evaluates if the mental illness impacts the parent's ability to care for the child or their relationship, rather than automatically deeming them unfit.

Question 13

The Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act of 1970

Accepted Answer

The Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act of 1970 directs judges to consider the child's wishes in a custody battle, among other factors, but not to base the decision solely on those wishes.

Question 14

In custody evaluations, the evaluator tries to discover which parent is the best fit for custody. Through this process, the evaluator

Accepted Answer

Evaluators in custody evaluations must remain neutral and unbiased throughout the process. They should not accept any family member as a client after the evaluation or communicate with one side of the family exclusively, as this could compromise their impartiality and the integrity of the evaluation.

Question 15

Research on mediation has shown that

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research on mediation has shown that
...

Question 16

What is the tender years doctrine?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the tender years doctrine?...

Question 17

What is the best interest standard?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the best interest standard?...

Question 18

What has been the effect of the review of custody specific tests used in assessing the parents in a custody dispute?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What has been the effect of the...

Question 19

What evidence is there that divorce is bad for children?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What evidence is there that divorce is...

Question 20

What is joint custody? How does it impact the children in the family? What contraindications would you see to joint custody arrangements?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is joint custody? How does it...

Quiz 13: Child Custody