Question 1

The famous Hinckley case (regarding the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan)resulted in

Accepted Answer

The Hinckley case led to significant changes in how the insanity defense is treated in the United States. One of the most notable outcomes was that more states shifted the burden of proving insanity onto the defense, rather than having the prosecution prove sanity. This change was a direct response to the public outcry and perceived leniency of the verdict in the Hinckley trial.

Question 2

The 1908 book On the Witness Stand was written by

Accepted Answer

On the Witness Stand was written by Hugo von Munsterberg.

Question 3

A psychologist working as an expert witness is required by the court to have

Accepted Answer

Expert witnesses, including psychologists, are not universally required by courts to have a Psy.D. or Ph.D., nor are they required to have board certification in their specialty. The qualifications for an expert witness can vary depending on the jurisdiction and the specific requirements of the case.

Question 4

Ashlee,who is wrapping up her undergraduate degree in psychology,is interested in becoming a forensic psychologist.ALL BUT WHICH of the following options are available to her (and others like her)for graduate training in this area?

Accepted Answer

All of the above training options are available to Ashlee and others, making it important for her to research and consider which program fits her career goals and interests best. Ultimately, the decision of which program to pursue will depend on a variety of factors such as career goals, interests, and previous academic and professional experience.

Question 5

Gloria abused a neighbor's child,who was under her care,so badly that the child ended up in the hospital in critical condition.Gloria asserts that she was mentally ill with post-partum depression at the time of the abuse and could not appreciate that what she was doing was wrong.Assuming that what she is saying is true,under which standard below would Gloria be considered "insane"?

Accepted Answer

Under the M'Naghten rule, a defendant is considered insane if they were unable to understand the nature and quality of their act or unable to understand that what they were doing was wrong due to a disease of the mind. The Durham standard, also known as the "product test," considers a defendant insane if their unlawful act was the product of mental disease or defect. The ALI (American Law Institute) standard states that a person is not responsible for criminal conduct if at the time of such conduct as a result of mental disease or defect they lack substantial capacity either to appreciate the criminality (wrongfulness) of their conduct or to conform their conduct to the requirements of the law. Gloria's assertion that she could not appreciate that what she was doing was wrong due to her mental illness could potentially meet the criteria for insanity under any of these standards.

Question 6

Regarding cross-examination of the expert witness,Schwitzgebel and Schwitzgebel (1980)suggest

Accepted Answer

Schwitzgebel and Schwitzgebel (1980) suggest that expert witnesses should be honest and admit weaknesses rather than trying to hide them. Additionally, they suggest that expert witnesses should take their time to carefully consider the questions asked during cross-examination rather than answering quickly. Therefore, neither option A nor B are recommended strategies for cross-examination of expert witnesses.

Question 7

Tommy was caught trying to steal a car,and now that he is in custody,he has been accused of stealing multiple cars in the area over the last three weeks.In his defense,Tommy says that he knows stealing cars is wrong,but that he can't help himself from stealing them because of his bipolar disorder.Assuming that what he is saying is true,under which standard below would Tommy be considered "insane"?

Accepted Answer

The ALI (American Law Institute) standard considers a defendant insane if they lack substantial capacity to appreciate the criminality of their conduct or to conform their conduct to the law due to a mental disease or defect, which aligns with Tommy's claim.

Question 8

According to the ethical standards specifically applicable to forensic psychology (e.g.,Blau,1998),

Accepted Answer

Psychologists who regularly testify as expert witnesses are encouraged to devote some professional time to pro bono publico (for the public good) cases, reflecting a commitment to ethical standards and social responsibility within the field of forensic psychology.

Question 9

The most liberal standard for judging a defendant insane is the

Accepted Answer

The ALI (American Law Institute) standard is considered the most liberal standard for judging a defendant insane. This standard states that a defendant is not responsible for criminal conduct if, at the time of such conduct, as a result of mental disease or defect, he or she lacked substantial capacity either to appreciate the wrongfulness of his or her conduct or to conform his or her conduct to the requirements of the law.

Question 10

Which of the following is an accurate statement about the 1993 Supreme Court decision in Daubert v.Merrell Dow?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is an accurate...

Question 11

Forensic psychology involves the application of the methods,theories,and concepts of psychology to

Accepted Answer

Forensic psychology involves using psychological knowledge and expertise to understand the legal system, including criminal behavior and the court system. It can be used in a variety of legal settings, such as criminal trials, civil lawsuits, and child custody disputes. It goes beyond just studying criminal behavior and encompasses the interaction between psychology and the legal system as a whole.

Question 12

Who is entitled to provide "ultimate opinion" testimony?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Who is entitled to provide "ultimate opinion"...

Question 13

ALL BUT WHICH of the following is true of forensic psychology?

Accepted Answer

The statement "The applications of the field are relatively narrow in scope" is not entirely true. Forensic psychology has a wide range of applications, including criminal investigations, court proceedings, custody evaluations, and offender treatment. While it may be narrow in comparison to general psychology, it still has significant applications within the legal system.

Question 14

Insanity

Accepted Answer

Insanity pleas are indeed less common than questions about competency to stand trial. Competency to stand trial focuses on the defendant's current mental state and ability to understand and participate in the legal process, while an insanity plea relates to the defendant's mental state at the time of the crime. Questions of competency are more frequently raised in legal proceedings than insanity defenses.

Question 15

Appropriately qualified psychologists were first authorized to testify in court as experts on mental disorder in

Accepted Answer

In 1962, psychologists were first authorized to testify in court as experts on mental disorder, marking a significant milestone in the recognition of psychology as a vital field in legal matters.

Question 16

What is the significance of the 1993 Supreme Court decision in Daubert v.Merrell Dow?

Accepted Answer

The 1993 Supreme Court decision in Daubert v. Merrell Dow changed the criteria for the admissibility of expert testimony by setting a new standard for the admissibility of expert scientific testimony in federal courts. The decision established that expert testimony must be based on scientific knowledge that is grounded in the scientific method, can be tested, has been subjected to peer review and publication, and has a known error rate. This decision broadened the discretion of trial judges to exclude expert testimony that did not meet these criteria. Therefore, option A is the correct choice.

Question 17

Which of the following is true regarding lay witnesses and expert witnesses?

Accepted Answer

An expert witness, unlike a lay witness, can offer opinions or inferences based on their specialized knowledge, training, or experience. Lay witnesses are limited to testifying about what they personally observed or experienced.

Question 18

Gerald robbed a bank early one morning and was caught by the authorities almost immediately afterwards.Now Gerald claims that he was not sane at the time of the crime.In most states and the District of Columbia,

Accepted Answer

CIn most states and the District of Columbia, when a defendant claims insanity as a defense, the burden of proof typically shifts to the defendant to prove that they were not sane at the time of the crime (A). Additionally, both the prosecution and the defense must address the question of sanity in their cases when the defendant enters an insanity plea (C), as it becomes a central issue in the trial.

Question 19

According to Faust et al.(2010),ALL BUT WHICH of the following is an informal criterion that many trial judges rely upon to decide whether expert testimony is admissible?

Accepted Answer

According to Faust et al. (2010), the informal criteria that trial judges rely upon to decide whether expert testimony is admissible include whether the testimony is helpful to the jury, trustworthy and valid, and helps prove or disprove an important issue in the case. Therefore, C is the only option that is not an informal criterion for expert testimony admissibility.

Question 20

Dr.Beatty,a forensic psychologist,has been contacted to serve as an expert witness for an upcoming court case.How will it be determined whether her testimony is admissible in court?

Accepted Answer

The ultimate decision on whether expert testimony is admissible is made by the trial judge. The judge will evaluate the relevance and validity of the expert's testimony, considering factors such as the expert's qualifications, the reliability of their methods, and the fit between their testimony and the issues in the case. While factors such as credentials and professional acceptance may be considered, the judge has the final say on whether the expert's testimony is admissible.

Quiz 19: Forensic Psychology

The famous Hinckley case (regarding the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan) resulted in