Question 1

In the play Harvey, a man who says he sees a six-foot white rabbit is the target of people who want to admit him involuntarily to a psychiatric hospital.Why is this kind of civil commitment something to be avoided if at all possible?

Accepted Answer

Civil commitment can lead to the stigmatization of psychiatric hospitalization, major disruptions in the person's life, loss of control over one's life, and loss of self-esteem. It can also involve involuntary treatment, taking away the person's autonomy and civil rights. Therefore, it is important to try to avoid civil commitment if possible and provide voluntary treatment where appropriate.

Question 2

Mental state at the time of a crime is to ____ as mental state at the time before and during the trial is to ____.

Accepted Answer

Competency to stand trial refers to the defendant's current mental state and ability to understand and participate in the legal proceedings. Civil commitment pertains to the legal process of confining individuals who are deemed to be a danger to themselves or others due to a mental illness, but who have not committed a crime. Dangerousness is an assessment of the likelihood that someone will harm themselves or others in the future. Insanity refers to a legal defense that can be used in cases where the defendant was not fully aware of their actions due to a mental illness at the time of the crime. Therefore, mental state at the time of the crime is related to the concept of insanity, while mental state before and during the trial is related to competency to stand trial.

Question 3

Milton was found not competent to stand trial.He was admitted to a psychiatric facility where, after many months, it was determined he was unlikely to regain competency.According to the Supreme Court ruling Jackson v.Indiana, what will happen to Milton?

Accepted Answer

According to the Supreme Court ruling in Jackson v. Indiana, if a defendant is found not competent to stand trial and is unlikely to regain competency, they cannot be held indefinitely in a psychiatric facility. The individual must either be freed or civil commitment procedures must begin. Therefore, choice C is the correct answer. Choices A and D are incorrect as the individual cannot be tried or found guilty if they are not competent to stand trial. Choice B is also incorrect as the individual cannot be held indefinitely in a psychiatric facility.

Question 4

The case of Durham vs.United States (1954)left the task of defining mental illness to mental health professionals.This had the general result that ____.

Accepted Answer

Relying on psychiatric testimony often led to confusion because both sides in a trial could present conflicting expert opinions, making it difficult for juries to reach a clear decision.

Question 5

Defendant "A" is a serial killer.Defendant "B" is a mass murderer.Based on what we currently are able to predict, what will these two defendants have in common?

Accepted Answer

While we cannot make assumptions about the mental state of the defendants based solely on their crimes, we can make a generalization based on statistics. In most cases, serial killers and mass murderers tend to be males. Therefore, it is likely that both defendants in this scenario are male. While options A, B, and D may apply to some serial killers and mass murderers, we cannot assume that they are true in this specific case without additional information.

Question 6

Carmelita's mother has contacted an attorney to begin civil commitment proceedings for Carmelita.We can guess that the mother is ____.

Accepted Answer

The fact that Carmelita's mother is initiating civil commitment proceedings suggests that she believes Carmelita is potentially a danger to herself or others. Civil commitment is a legal process in which an individual is involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital or other mental health facility due to concerns about their mental health and safety.

Question 7

Henry wants to have his wife Eleanor committed to a mental hospital because he believes she presents a danger to herself.What would be the first step in the civil commitment process?

Accepted Answer

The first step in the civil commitment process is to file a petition with the court to examine the person who is believed to be in need of commitment. This petition may be filed by a concerned family member, friend, or mental health professional. The court will then appoint one or more mental health professionals to examine the individual and provide a report to the court. Based on this report, the court will determine whether a hearing is necessary to make a final decision about commitment.

Question 8

Proceedings have begun to have Angelina civilly committed because she is unable to care for herself and does not have the social network to provide for such care.This mean that Angelina is unable to provide which of the following for herself?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Proceedings have begun to have Angelina civilly...

Question 9

A judge hears four cases involving civil commitment.Based on the criteria for civil commitment, which case is likely to be denied by the judge (i.e., the person will not be sent to a psychiatric facility involuntarily)?

Accepted Answer

None of the criteria for civil commitment apply to the case of the young married woman who is seriously depressed after giving birth. Civil commitment is only appropriate if a person poses a danger to themselves or others due to a severe mental illness or substance use disorder. While postpartum depression is a serious condition, it does not necessarily meet the criteria for civil commitment.

Question 10

Janice has bipolar disorder and refuses to take medication to control her manic episodes.She was arrested last night for disturbing the peace and assault.When she is brought into custody, it is apparent that she is experiencing a manic episode.She appears psychotic, and after a psychological evaluation, a psychologist files a report with the court indicating that Janice is not competent to stand trial.What will happen to Janice now?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Janice has bipolar disorder and refuses to...

Question 11

The legal checks and balances that are guaranteed to everyone, such as the right to counsel and the right to present evidence, are called ____.

Accepted Answer

Due process refers to the legal protections and procedures that must be followed in any legal action, including the right to counsel and the right to present evidence. The other options are not directly related to legal checks and balances.

Question 12

Which of the following is one of the criteria used to determine a defendant's competency to stand trial?

Accepted Answer

One of the criteria used to determine a defendant's competency to stand trial is whether they have a factual understanding of the proceedings, including the charges, possible penalties, and roles of the judge, prosecutor, and defense counsel. While understanding the nature and consequences of the offense they are accused of is also important, it is not the only criterion. The other options listed (C) and (D) are not directly related to competency to stand trial criteria.

Question 13

Working with culturally different clients is unethical unless mental health professionals ____.

Accepted Answer

It is not unethical to work with culturally different clients as long as mental health professionals have adequate training and expertise in multicultural psychology. They should be able to acknowledge the importance of culture in understanding and addressing the clients' mental health concerns. Without proper training and understanding of cultural differences, professionals may unintentionally harm their clients due to their lack of understanding or ignorance. Therefore, it is important for mental health professionals to have the necessary skills and knowledge to work successfully with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds. While participating in cultural immersion programs or majoring in multiculturalism may be helpful, it is not necessary as long as they have received adequate training in the area of multicultural psychology.

Question 14

Most civil commitments are based on which criterion?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Most civil commitments are based on which...

Question 15

The case of the "bag lady" (BL), demonstrates the involuntary confinement of a person perceived to be a threat to self or to others, even though no crime has been committed.This is termed ____.

Accepted Answer

Civil commitment refers to the involuntary confinement of an individual who is considered to be a danger to themselves or others, but has not committed a crime. This is often done for psychiatric reasons, and is meant to protect both the individual and those around them. In the case of the "bag lady," she was not arrested or charged with a crime, but was instead committed to a psychiatric hospital because she was deemed to be a danger to herself due to her severe mental illness.

Question 16

Dr.Chung says, "Psychologists are poor predictors of dangerousness for the same reason that meteorologists are poor at predicting when a tornado will occur." Dr.Chung means that dangerousness ____.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Chung is comparing the prediction of dangerousness to the prediction of tornadoes, implying that both are challenging to predict because they are rare events, not because of their relation to weather or context.

Question 17

After a defendant screams at his attorney while in court for the fifth time, the judge says, "It seems likely that your client either does not know what is going on in these proceedings or cannot rationally consult with you." The judge is questioning the ____.

Accepted Answer

The judge's statement about the defendant's ability to understand the proceedings and consult with their attorney suggests that they may not be competent to stand trial. Competency refers to a defendant's mental state at the time of trial, specifically their ability to understand the proceedings and assist in their defense. If the defendant is found to be incompetent, the trial may be postponed until they receive treatment or may move forward with the defendant being committed to a mental health facility.

Question 18

Because of the Jackson v.Indiana (1972)decision, the determination that a person is incompetent to stand trial ____.

Accepted Answer

The Jackson v. Indiana (1972) decision ruled that a person cannot be confined indefinitely on the grounds of incompetency. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer. Choices B, C, and D are all incorrect as they are not supported by the ruling in Jackson v. Indiana.

Question 19

Civil commitment is the reason Hannah was hospitalized against her will.Which of the following is a criterion that could have been used in her civil commitment hearing?

Accepted Answer

Civil commitment hearings are typically used to determine whether an individual meets the criteria for involuntary hospitalization or treatment. One commonly used criterion is an individual's inability to care for themselves, which can indicate that they are a danger to themselves or others. The other choices - fear of emotional control, inability to consult rationally, and a diagnosis of personality disorder - are not typically used as criteria for civil commitment.

Question 20

Research has found that in terms of predicting a client's potential dangerousness, mental health professionals ____.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that mental health professionals tend to overpredict violence, which can lead to unnecessary hospitalization or restriction of freedoms for patients who are not actually dangerous.

Quiz 17: Legal and Ethical Issues in Abnormal Psychology