Deck 13: Role of Psychology in the Civil Area: Child Custody Disputes, Parental Competence, Workplace Law

Question 1

To truly understand the divorce process and its impacts on adjustment, it is best for psychologists to engage in _____ research.

A) qualitative
B) quantitative
C) longitudinal
D) survey

Answer 1

longitudinal

Question 2

Explain some of the different forensic assessments used in custody reports and their respective purposes.

Answer 2

Answers will vary but should include some of the following from the text: Parenting Stress Index (PS)-given to parent: evaluates problems and magnitude of stress in the parent-child relationship; focuses on the three domains of stress: child characteristics, parent characteristics, and situational or demographic characteristics. Child Abuse Potential Inventory (CAPI)-given to parent: designed to detect physical child abuse; developed for use by protective service workers in their investigations of reported child abuse cases; used to aid in differentiating abusers from nonabusers. Bricklin Perceptual Scales (BPS)-given to child: assesses their unconscious perceptions of parents' behavior, including competence, follow-up consistency, supportiveness, and possession of admirable personality traits. Ackerman-Schoendorf Scales for Parent Evaluation of Custody (ASPECT)-given to parent and child: a multiple-component measure that incorporates data from several established tests of both adults and children, including (1) the MMPI-2, (2) the Rorschach inkblot test, (3) an intelligence test, (4) a projective story and a series of parent questionnaires; purpose is to aid evaluators in detecting negative indicators such as parental drug abuse and physical or sexual abuse, and positive indicators, such as involvement with the child and good social judgment.
It could also be noted that these measures are primarily designed to assist psychological professionals in structuring assessments, not making recommendations per se. To date, scientific evaluation of the reliability and validity of these tools is limited although there is some evidence to support the use of the BPS and ASPECT in forensic evaluations.

Question 3

Otto and Martindale's analysis of research on the effects of divorce found that children of divorced parents are _____ times more likely to develop psychological problems.

A) 2
B) 4
C) 6
D) 8

Answer 3

2

Question 4

Which statement about PAS is FALSE?

A) The Canadian court relied on PAS evidence in the decision in BSP v. DGP.
B) The American Psychological Association has endorsed PAS as a diagnosis.
C) Existing literature on PAS is either by its originator or is anecdotal.
D) According to Gardner, there are four levels of PAS: casual, intermittent, serious, and extreme.

Question 5

Which is NOT mentioned in the text as a current problem with the BICS?

A) It encourages settlements that may cut short fact finding and problem solving.
B) It tends to incite parents to litigate and to exaggerate negative accusations.
C) It contains vague concepts that are too difficult to measure, which may promote bias.
D) It relies on court decisions based on predicting the future.

Question 6

Which finding was NOT mentioned in the review of research on the mental health of children of divorce?

A) After divorce rates of depression and anxiety increased among children who experienced pre-divorce anxiety.
B) Children of divorced parents characterized as "high-conflict" had the best post-divorce outcomes.
C) Divorce appeared to increase the amount of time children spent in daycare.
D) Early sexual activity, marriage and divorce also characterize children of divorced parents.

Question 7

One explanation of why children might actually do better after parents divorce is known as the:

A) only-child syndrome.
B) relief hypothesis.
C) parental alienation theory.
D) household stress factor.

Question 8

Discuss employers' responsibilities in addressing sexual harassment and how the law interprets them.

Question 9

What are some of the psychological problems associated with sexual harassment and the psychologist's role in identifying them?

Question 10

The topic of actor Alec Baldwin's book titled A Promise to Ourselves was:

A) fighting for custody of his brother's children.
B) determining the "best interest of the child."
C) parental alienation syndrome.
D) joint custody arrangements.

Question 11

Describe Parental Alienation Syndrome and whether it should be accepted by the court.

Question 12

Which is NOT one of the forensic assessment instruments used in custody disputes?

A) Parenting Stress Index
B) Minnesota Multiphasic Parenting Instrument
C) Child Abuse Potential Inventory
D) Ackerman-Schoendorf Scales

Question 13

Which statement about current custody law in Canada is FALSE?

A) The standard for custody arrangements today is to serve the "best interest of the child."
B) The presumption underlying the law is that the mother would be the best primary custodian.
C) Custody and access law is governed by the federal Divorce Act.
D) Where divorce is not at issue, provincial and territorial family law governs custody decisions.

Question 14

Which is NOT one of the types of child custody arrangements?

A) joint
B) split
C) sole
D) temporary

Question 15

The text explains that about _____ percent of custody decisions are made without resorting to litigation.

A) 68
B) 75
C) 84
D) 90

Question 16

Discuss the different custody arrangements and the potential problems with each.

Question 17

When parents in custody disputes attempt to improve perceptions of their mental health, the text calls that:

A) sanity show.
B) padding the test.
C) stacking the psych.
D) faking good.

Question 18

Under English common law, the doctrine of _____ controlled the disposition of children after divorce.

A) parens patriae
B) juris matriae
C) reus curiae
D) pater familias

Question 19

The authors explain that data from 1998 and 1999 show that custody decisions in Canada resulted in _____ percent mother-exclusive and _____ percent father-exclusive.

A) 41; 20
B) 51; 15
C) 62; 10
D) 78; 5

Question 20

The forensic assessment instrument that specifically targets the child's perspective is the:

A) Bricklin Perceptual Scales.
B) Ackerman-Schoendorf Scales.
C) Child Abuse Potential Inventory.
D) Parenting Stress Index.

Question 21

Which statement about custody disputes in Canada is FALSE?

A) Custody and access are the most common parent-child issues in civil courts.
B) Between 2011 and 2012, there were 80,000 custody and access cases in courts.
C) Custody and access equal one-quarter of family law cases before the courts.
D) By law, all custody and access judgments must be finalized in 180 days or less.

Question 22

Data from 2008 indicate that women in Canada earn _____ percent of what men do.

A) 60
B) 65
C) 71
D) 78

Question 23

Examining research by Gutek, it is observed that the highest rates of sexual harassment in professional careers were reported by:

A) female lawyers.
B) female medical students.
C) female members of the American military.
D) females in engineering.

Question 24

Which is NOT one of the conditions that the text argues is required to reduce stereotypes and prejudices that negatively impact the workplace?

A) There must be equal-status contact between groups.
B) Have new groups form a recreational team to build camaraderie and self-support.
C) The organization should promote one-on-one interactions between members of both groups.
D) The organization should create opportunities for achieving superordinate goals.

Question 25

Which statement about the wage gap in Canada is FALSE?

A) In 2009, women were twice as likely to be working part-time as men.
B) Between 1980 and 2008 the wage gap narrowed only for ages 25 to 44.
C) Women are less likely to engage in salary negotiations during hiring than men.
D) The more children a woman has, the lower her hourly wage.

Question 26

Which statement about the nature of workplace discrimination is FALSE?

A) One study found that non-racialized Canadians earned 81 cents for every dollar earned by racialized Canadians.
B) There is no constitutional right to merit-based decisions in the workplace.
C) Being disadvantaged by nepotism, favoritism or administrative errors does not amount to unlawful discrimination.
D) Research using mock resumes indicated that employers in three large Canadian cities significantly discriminated against applicants with East Indian and Chinese names.

Question 27

In 1977 the _____ Act was passed, outlining discriminatory practices in the workplace, among other settings.

A) Canadian Human Rights
B) Canadian Equal Opportunity
C) Worker Support and Accommodation
D) Employee Protection

Question 28

Which statement about sexual harassment in the workplace today is FALSE.

A) When men are the victims of harassment it is more likely to come from another man.
B) Women are more likely to classify staring or flirting as sexual harassment than men are.
C) Pink-collar jobs and blue-collar jobs seem to experience different forms of sexual harassment.
D) Employers must investigate and correct harassment problems even if a formal complaint has not been received.

Question 29

When both parents have joint custody of the child and each parent spends at least 40% of the time with the child it is called _____custody.

A) split
B) shared
C) timed
D) alternating

Question 30

The most common way for a plaintiff in a harassment lawsuit to establish the harm that has resulted is:

A) videotaped surveillance footage or recorded conversations.
B) by the plaintiff's own testimony.
C) through the results of a psychological evaluation.
D) using witness testimony and workplace records.

Question 31

Which is NOT one of the four distinct emotional consequences of sexual harassment identified in lawsuits?

A) anxious arousal
B) self-blame
C) indignation
D) fear

Question 32

According to the text, which is NOT one of the tasks that typically fall under the role of the forensic psychologist in workplace discrimination cases?

A) determine if a measurable injury occurred
B) identify who or what is responsible for that injury
C) decide if an injury could have been caused by a pre-existing condition
D) assess the severity of the injury that occurred

Question 33

Which was NOT one of the findings of the Supreme Court in Janzen v. Platy Enterprises concerning two women who were fired after being sexually harassed by a co-worker?

A) The employer was liable for the actions of the offending employee.
B) The court upheld the award for damages for lost wages to both women.
C) Persistent and abusive sexual harassment was held to constitute sexual discrimination.
D) The quid-pro-quo harassment was found to be in violation of the Human Rights Act.

Question 34

Researchers argue that improving the gender balance of a workplace to at least _____ percent of the underrepresented gender would reduce harassment and improve the overall climate.

A) 20
B) 25
C) 30
D) 35

Question 35

Regulations requiring that a police officer not be colorblind would be considered:

A) an unconstitutional barrier to equal opportunity employment.
B) a condition requiring special accommodation on the job.
C) indirect discrimination as the affliction primarily impacts men.
D) a bona fide occupational requirement.

Question 36

Which statement about the gender gap in salaries in Canada is FALSE?

A) While women suing Bell Canada obtained a favorable settlement, they did not win against Canada Post.
B) Men with children have higher hourly wages than men without children.
C) Women who negotiate salaries face a penalty 5.5 times greater than that faced by men.
D) College-educated men earn an average of $13,700 more per year than college-educated women.

Question 37

The courts distinguish between two areas of issues in custody arrangements: _____ and _____.

A) personal; financial
B) material; relative
C) primary; secondary
D) legal; physical

Question 38

In some research it has been found that people define a broader range of behaviours as harassing if they are told to consider:

A) aggravating and mitigating circumstances.
B) the best interest of the individual.
C) a reasonable woman standard.
D) the totality of the circumstances.

Question 39

According to the text, which was NOT an outcome of the Bhinder v. CN Railway case?

A) The court considered having to wear a hard hat a bona fide occupational qualification.
B) The rule, while singling out Bhinder, was not considered a discriminatory practice.
C) The court advised that Bhinder be rehired in a different non-hard hat capacity.
D) The company did not have a duty to accommodate Bhinder at that specific position.

Question 40

Which statement about sexual harassment in the workplace as discussed in the text is FALSE?

A) Almost 300 current and former members of the RCMP have filed a class action suit that has yet to be resolved.
B) The current legal definition of sexual harassment comes from the Canadian Labour Code (1985).
C) Disagreements that cannot be worked out informally are taken to human rights tribunals which are quasi-judicial administrative panels.
D) Only in the United States are complaints of sexual harassment filed equally by male and female workers.