Introduction to Forensic Psychology: Clinical and Social Psychological Perspectives

by Lenore E.A. Walker, David Shapiro

Overview

of witnesses and on confessions, and the prevention of crime. In 1900, Alfred Binet, the French psychologist who developed the first standard­ ized intelligence test, the Stanford-Binet, testified in court about the use of psychological tests with delinquents and criminals. These tests were later used in large scale for screening potential police as well as criminals and by World War II in the 1940's, were used in many different ways to classify and design treatment for soldiers. In fact, the use of scientific psychometric tests has continued to be one of the strong assets the psychologist can bring to the law. In 1911, a Belgium psychologist, Varendonck testified that child witnesses did not have the mental capacity of adults and their testimony should not be admitted in courts. That same year, a German psychologist, Carl Marbe testified about proximate cause in a civil lawsuit. He described the psychological experiments used to determine that alcohol can have a negative impact on a person's reaction time and subsequent behavior. In the United States the introduction of expert witness testimony took a similar route. In 1921 a case called, State v. Driver recognized that a psy­ chologist could be an expert on juvenile delinquency, but the court rejected that psychologist's testimony, anyhow. One of the first cases that set the standards of admitting all experts, including psychologists, called the Frye standard was decided in 1923.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781441934215
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	12/01/2010
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of hardcover 1st ed. 2003
Pages:	430
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

David L. Shapiro was Chief of the PreTrial Forensic Division at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington D.C., Chief Psychologist for the Maryland Division of Corrections, and in the independent practice of forensic psychology since 1972. He was one of the first psychologists to be awarded the Diplomate in Forensic Psychology and served a term as President of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology. A Fellow of the American Psychological Association, he served on their Ethics Committee as well as the Ethics Committee of the American Board of Forensic Psychology including a term as its Chair. He taught as an Associate Professor for several years at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in NYC and currently is Associate Professor of Psychology at NSU-CPS.

Leonore E. Walker is author of 12 previous books including the now classic, The Battered Woman (1979). She was awarded an National Institute of Mental Health research grant that gathered the pioneering information to name "battered woman syndrome" and pioneered its introduction in courts around the country helping juries and judges understand why battered women killed in self-defense and were not mentally ill. Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Institute, Walker has engaged in public policy initiatives, research and training in many countries around the world. She has testified before US Congress and worked with NATO, WHO, PAHO, and other governments to assist in developing public policies to help provide safety for battered women and their children. A Fellow in the American Psychological Association, Walker served a term on the Board of Directors and Council of Representatives, chaired the Child Abuse Policy Committee and the Presidential Task Force on Violence and the Family, and was President of several divisions including Society for the Psychology of Women, Psychologists in Independent Practice of Psychology, and Media Psychology. She currently has an independent practice offorensic psychology and is Professor and Coordinator of the Forensic Psychology Concentration in NSU-CPS.

Table of Contents

Section I What is Forensic Psychology? 1

Chapter 1 Introduction to Forensic Psychology 3

Chapter 2 Models of Legal Systems 15

Chapter 3 Admissibility of Expert Testimony 29

Section II Understanding the Criminal Mind 39

Chapter 4 Criminal Responsibility 41

Chapter 5 Competency to Stand Trial 59

Chapter 6 Self-Defense and Syndrome Testimony 77

Chapter 7 Clinical Assessment in Forensic Settings 99

Chapter 8 Psychological Interventions in Forensic Settings 119

Section III Can Psychologists Measure Pain and Suffering? 145

Chapter 9 Civil Law and Personal Injury 147

Chapter 10 Involuntary Commitment and Other Civil Liberties 167

Section IV Family Law and Fitness to Parent 191

Chapter 11 Marriage and Divorce 195

Chapter 12 Access to, and Protection of, Children 219

Chapter 13 Protection of Abused Children, the Mentally and Physically Challenged, and the Elderly 243

Chapter 14 Reproductive Rights and the Law 257

Section V Juvenile Justice 277

Chapter 15 Delinquency 279

Chapter 16 School Violence 297

Chapter 17 Legal Rights of Children 313

Section VI Legal Consultation Based on Social Psychology 329

Chapter 18 Discrimination and Sexual Harassment 331

Chapter 19 Eyewitness Identification 353

Chapter 20 Jury Selection and Trial Consultation 369

Section VII Practical Tips for Forensic Psychology Experts 383

Chapter 21 Forensic Experts and Attorneys: Communication Process 385

Chapter 22 Risk Management in Forensic Psychology Practice 401

Case Citations 409

Selected Readings 413

Index 419

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Nicholas Greco IV, MS, BCETS, CATSM, FAAETS (C3 Education and Research, Inc.)
Description: This book successfully provides a solid foundation for introducing clinicians and students to the field of forensic psychology. It provides relevant updates to mental health law, domestic violence, and reproductive technologies.
Purpose: The purpose is to introduce students and clinicians to forensic psychology from the perspective of psychologists who work with attorneys and judges to better solve legal problems. It is through this perspective that the reader will understand the rules and practices of each discipline from authors who are highly respected forensic psychologists.
Audience: This book will benefit students and clinicians in psychology, but also serve as an important resource to federal and state prison employees along with police and firefighters. Clearly, the perfect fit for this book is within academic and clinical settings as it is the most solidly written introduction to forensic psychology.
Features: This book is so comprehensive and jam packed with knowledge that I can only highlight chapters of interest. Models of legal systems outlines the various court systems, expert testimony speaks for itself, criminal responsibility and competency to stand trial are excellent primers to understanding insanity versus sanity, involuntary commitment is a must-read, clinical assessment is terrific, family law and juvenile justice sections are well written. Of additional interest is risk management in a forensic psychology practice. The only shortcoming is the omission of a glossary as this would add to the utility of this book as not only a teaching text but a quick reference. Luckily, the index helps to compensate for this shortcoming.
Assessment: The authors have compiled one of the most comprehensive introductory texts to forensic psychology. Undoubtedly a worthwhile contribution to the field of psychology this year. This is a must-have for clinicians involved in forensic psychology or for those interested in this exciting specialty.

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