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Chapter 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the three key elements of being trauma-informed?

A
  1. Realizing - the prevalence of trauma in our community
  2. Recognizing - the impact of trauma on people
  3. Responding - how can we respond without re-traumatizing someone
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2
Q

How do systems in our community contribute to re-traumatization?

A

People are constantly re-traumatized by systems such as justice and health.

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3
Q

What is the “Window of Tolerance”?

A

It is the state when we are at our best—feeling alert, calm, and engaged.

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4
Q

Why is the Window of Tolerance valuable?

A

It helps us check in with ourselves and get back into a state where we can learn and function effectively.

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5
Q

What are signs of hyperarousal?

A

->Shaky hands
->Fast heartbeat
->Fidgeting
->Sweating
->Fumbling over words
->Rosy cheeks

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6
Q

What is the fight-or-flight response?

A

A physiological reaction to stress or perceived danger that prepares the body to either confront (fight) or escape (flight).

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7
Q

What is hypoarousal, and what are its signs?

A

Hypoarousal is when someone feels tired, depressed, isolated, or dissociated. Signs include:

->Increased irritability or impatience
->Difficulty planning/ concentrating
->Avoidance
->Denial of trauma’s impact
->Feeling numb
->Intrusive thoughts
->Dreams/nightmares

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8
Q

What is forensic science?

A

The use of scientific knowledge to answer legal questions.

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9
Q

What does forensic anthropology study?

A

The examination of human remains.

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10
Q

What is forensic biology, and what do forensic entomologists study?

A

Forensic biology involves studying biological evidence, and forensic entomologists analyze insect presence on decomposing bodies.

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11
Q

What do forensic pathologists do?

A

Medical doctors who examine injuries or remains to determine time and cause of death.

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12
Q

What is forensic toxicology?

A

The study of substances in the body to determine their presence and effect.

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13
Q

What does forensic mental health focus on?

A

The assessment and treatment of individuals with a criminal history.

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14
Q

What was early research in this field focused on?

A

eye witness testimony and suggestibility in children

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15
Q

What was Cattell’s (1895) contribution to forensic psychology?

A

He studied the accuracy of everyday observations and found that people are not very good at recalling events and lack confidence in their memories.

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16
Q

What did Binet (1900) discover about children’s suggestibility?

A

He found that free recall in children is more reliable than leading questions.

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17
Q

What was Stern’s (1939) ‘reality experiment’ about?

A

Conducted in 1901, it showed that eyewitness testimony is often incorrect, especially when emotional arousal is high.

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18
Q

What did Von Schrenck-Notzing (1896) contribute to forensic psychology?

A

-> He was an expert witness on the impact of pre-trial press (media)

-> introduced the concept of “retroactive memory falsification,” where people confuse real memories with media-influenced information.

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19
Q

What did Varendonck (1911) study?

A

He was an expert witness on children as eyewitnesses and found that children provide inaccurate testimony if suggestive questions are used.

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20
Q

What did Hugo Munsterberg argue in On the Witness Stand (1908)?

A

He advocated for the role of psychology in the legal system, but his ideas were largely rejected by the legal community.

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21
Q

Why is Munsterberg known as “the father of forensic psychology”?

A

Despite rejection from legal scholars, he laid the foundation for psychology’s role in the legal system.

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22
Q

What was the significance of State v. Driver (1921)?

A

first U.S. case where a psychologist provided expert testimony, but the testimony was rejected, questioning the use of psychological tests in detecting lies.

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23
Q

What precedent was set in Jenkins v. United States (1962)?

A

The court ruled that some psychologists are qualified to give expert testimony on mental disorders, reversing an earlier ruling that had dismissed their testimony.

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24
Q

How did Canada contribute to forensic psychology?

A

->Advanced research on eyewitness testimony and jury decision-making

->Became a leader in corrections (risk assessment & treatment)

->Courts were slower to accept psychologist testimony, favoring medical doctors and psychiatrists

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25
What are the key indicators of forensic psychology as an established discipline?
->High-quality textbooks ->Academic journals ->Professional associations ->Training opportunities ->Recognized as a specialty by the APA (2001)
26
*What is the narrow definition of forensic psychology?
->Very precise ->Focuses on clinical aspects (assessment, treatment) ->Excludes research (e.g., forensic researchers)
27
*What is the broad definition of forensic psychology?
->Studies human behavior in relation to the legal system ->Includes both research and practice aspects ->More inclusive
28
What are the three main roles of a forensic psychologist?
1. Clinician 2. Researcher 3. Legal Scholar
29
What tasks does a forensic clinician perform?
->Primarily conducts assessments ->Custody mediations ->Provides expert testimony ->Conducts critical incident debriefing for first responders
30
What areas do forensic psychology researchers study?
->Risk assessment effectiveness ->Offender treatment programs ->Juror decision-making (Often related to mental health issues)
31
What do forensic legal scholars focus on?
->Scholarly analysis of mental health law ->Policy analysis and legislative consultation ->Interested in legal and policy changes
32
What was the main tension between non-clinicians and clinicians (Brigham, 1999)?
Many were displeased with the increase of clinical practice in forensic psychology.
33
Who was Margaret Hagen, and what were her views?
-> Developmental psychologist -> Criticized expert clinical witnesses in her book Whores of the Court (1997) -> Argued experts were arrogant, ignored research findings, and made overblown claims -> Believed some experts altered testimony for money or personal gain
34
*What are the three ways psychology interacts with the law?
1. Psychology and the law – Studying how the legal system operates 2. Psychology in the law – Applying psychology within legal settings 3. Psychology of the law – Studying the law itself
35
What are examples of psychology and the law?
Are eyewitnesses accurate? Are judges fair in sentencing? Can we predict if someone will reoffend?
36
What are examples of psychology in the law?
->Parole boards using psychological reports ->Psychologists assisting police in hostage situations
37
What are examples of psychology of the law?
-> Do laws reduce crime? -> Why do some people obey the law while others don’t?
38
What is the difference between a regular witness and an expert witness?
-> Regular witness: Testifies only about what they directly observed -> Expert witness: Provides opinions based on specialized knowledge
39
What is the primary function of an expert witness?
To assist triers of fact (judges, jurors) by acting as an impartial educator.
40
What are the challenges of providing expert testimony?
Experts must: 1. Know case details and their testimony well 2. Understand their role in legal proceedings 3. Communicate persuasively and clearly
41
How do psychology and law differ in epistemology (truth)?
->Psychology: Assumes an objective truth exists (positivism) ->Law: Truth is subjective, based on persuasive argumentation
42
How do psychology and law differ in their nature?
->Psychology (descriptive): Describes how people behave ->Law (prescriptive): Tells people how they should behave
43
How do psychology and law differ in how they acquire knowledge?
->Psychology: Through research and experimentation ->Law: Through precedent and logical reasoning
44
How do psychology and law differ in methodology?
->Psychology: Uses experimental methods to find generalizable trends ->Law: Uses case-by-case analysis (narrative-based)
45
How do psychology and law differ in criterion for truth?
->Psychology: Conservative—reluctant to accept hypotheses as truth ->Law: Lenient—truth is decided on a single case basis
46
How do psychology and law differ in principles of explanation?
->Psychology: Considers multiple explanations (null & alternative hypotheses) ->Law: Focuses on one single explanation to convince the court
47
How do psychology and law differ in latitude of behavior?
->Psychologists: Strictly limited in what they can testify about ->Lawyers: Have far fewer restrictions in court
48
What is the "general acceptance test" in Canadian law?
It requires expert testimony to be accepted by the scientific community to be admissible in court.
49
What are the four criteria under R v. Mohan for admissible expert testimony?
1. Must be relevant to the case 2. Must be necessary to assist the trier of fact (judge/jury) 3. Must not violate rules of exclusion 4. Must be provided by a qualified expert
50
What does "not violating rules of exclusion" mean in R v. Mohan?
Evidence can be relevant but still inadmissible if it unfairly influences the case. EX. A sexual offender’s past behavior may be relevant but could be excluded if it doesn’t apply to the current case.
51
What are examples of qualified experts under R v. Mohan?
Psychiatrists, psychologists, forensic toxicologists, and other specialized professionals.
52
What is the Criminal Code of Canada?
A federal law that applies across Canada, outlining: ->Criminal offences ->Sentencing rules ->Criminal trial procedures
53
At what age does the Criminal Code of Canada apply to youth?
12 and up
54
What is the significance of R v. Gladue?
->A case involving an Indigenous woman who stabbed her husband in an intoxicated state. ->She received no special consideration for her Indigenous background in sentencing.
55
What is Section 718.2(e) of the Criminal Code?
Courts must consider an Indigenous offender’s background (e.g., poverty, residential schools, genocide) when making sentencing decisions.
56
What is a Gladue Report?
->a written document detailing the specific considerations to the history of Indigenous people
57
What is the purpose of the Mental Health Act?
->Outlines admission and treatment procedures for individuals with mental health issues. ->Protects the rights of individuals receiving mental health services. ->Varies across provinces in Canada.
58
When can a person be involuntarily committed under the Mental Health Act?
If they are deemed a danger to themselves or others by a medical doctor.
59
What are the steps for involuntary commitment?
-> Doctor assesses and deems the person a danger → Admitted involuntarily -> Within 24 hours → Needs a doctor’s approval to remain -> Within 48 hours → A second doctor must confirm the need for admission -> Can last up to 30 days
60
What does the Forensic Psychiatry Act do?
Provides mental health services to individuals involved in the criminal justice system (both youth and adults).
61
What law governs criminal charges for youth in Canada?
The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) under the Criminal Code of Canada (CCC).
62
What special protections exist for youth under the YCJA?
->Names cannot be published to protect minors. ->Different sentencing considerations due to age.
63
What does the Infants Act allow minors (12+) to do?
->Consent to their own medical treatment (without parental approval). ->Decide on their own counseling and therapy.
64
What is an ethical dilemma?
A situation that requires ethical consideration when making a decision.
65
What is informed consent?
A voluntary agreement to participate in an activity (e.g., assessment, treatment).
66
What is assent in psychology?
Getting permission from a minor to participate in treatment or research.
67
What is confidentiality, and what are its limits?
Confidentiality means keeping information private, but there are exceptions: 1. Court orders 2. Risk of harm to self or others 3. Child abuse or neglect 4. Clinical supervision
68
What is the Duty to Warn in psychology?
If a client threatens harm, a psychologist has a duty to warn the potential victim and authorities.
69
What happened in the Tarasoff case?
->A man told his therapist he wanted to murder his girlfriend. ->Therapist only called police—did not warn the victim. ->The girlfriend was murdered. ->Court ruled therapists must warn potential victims and authorities.
70
Why is record-keeping important in psychology?
->Transparency is key—records may be used in legal decisions. ->Must be careful about wording, as notes can be taken out of context. ->Safeguard information to protect client privacy.
71
Why is "who is the client?" an ethical issue in forensic psychology?
->The person receiving treatment (e.g., a youth) is not always the client. ->The real client may be a judge, probation officer, or the court that ordered the assessment. ->This creates potential conflicts of interest.
72
What is a dual role, and why is it unethical in forensic settings?
->A dual role occurs when a psychologist has multiple professional relationships with the same person. EX. Assessing a youth, then providing them therapy. ->This creates bias and ethical conflicts.
73
Can a forensic psychologist assess a client and later provide therapy?
No—if you have already treated them, assessing them later is biased and unethical. Yes—if you first assess them and then provide therapy, this is ethical.
74
What ethical concerns exist in risk assessment?
->Effectiveness of tools used to predict risk. ->Balancing rehabilitation of the offender with public safety needs. ->Over-reliance on risk assessment tools without considering individual circumstances.
75
What are the 6 steps of ethical decision-making in forensic psychology?
1. Clarify the ethical issue (What is the problem?) 2. Gather information (What do we not know yet?) 3. Identify and assess alternatives (What are the choices? Pros and cons?) 4. Choose a course of action (Which choice is best?) 5. Take action (Follow through with the decision.) 6. Assess the outcome (Did it work? Would we change anything?)

Forensics (10 decks)

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