Forensic Psychology: Chapter 2 Questions with
verified answers
A firm of trial consultants Ans✓✓✓ is hired by a law firm to assist in
identifying the major issues in a case, determine if there has been
excessive pretrial publicity in the case, prepare witnesses for trial, and
advise in jury selection.
may participate in continuing education seminars offered to improve
lawyers' negotiation, jury selection, and trial presentation skills.
Typically only involved in large civil trials.
Amicus curiae briefs Ans✓✓✓ information that may be a legal opinion
in the form of a brief, a testimony that has not been solicited by any of
the parties, or a learned treatise on a matter that bears on the case.
The decision whether to admit the information lies with the discretion
of the court) accompany appeals.
Atkins v. Virginia (2002) Ans✓✓✓ the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6 to 3
that executions of mentally retarded criminals are "cruel and unusual
punishment" that violates the 8th amendment to the Constitution.
The APA submitted amicus briefs that clearly influenced the majority
opinion and the opinion quoted research from the APA amicus brief.
Bowers v. Hardwick (1986) Ans✓✓✓ the APA offered an amicus brief
challenging the basis of laws that made sodomy between consenting
members of the homosexual community illegal
, The brief brought psychological research findings to bear on several
MYTHS offered as justification for the "sodomy laws"
Psychological research found NO support for the myth that this
behavior reflected mental illness, that members of the gay community
were threat to public health, or that they are unusual.
conduit-educator Ans✓✓✓ the expert regards his or her own field as
the first priority.
Confidentiality Ans✓✓✓ is a particular concern for trial consultants,
who must avoid unreasonable intrusion into the private lives of others,
including members of focus groups or mock juries.
Evaluation Ans✓✓✓ is a primary responsibility of many forensic
psychologists with clinical psychology backgrounds, who act as
evaluators and potential expert witnesses.
Examine a criminal defendant to determine if he or she has damage to
the brain
The assessment of other, non-neuropsychological characteristics of
defendants is another task
Determining psychopathy (1% of the general population, but comprises
15-25% of the prison population)
expert witnesses Ans✓✓✓ witnesses that may express opinions, for
they are presumed to possess special knowledge about a topic,
knowledge that the average juror does not have.
verified answers
A firm of trial consultants Ans✓✓✓ is hired by a law firm to assist in
identifying the major issues in a case, determine if there has been
excessive pretrial publicity in the case, prepare witnesses for trial, and
advise in jury selection.
may participate in continuing education seminars offered to improve
lawyers' negotiation, jury selection, and trial presentation skills.
Typically only involved in large civil trials.
Amicus curiae briefs Ans✓✓✓ information that may be a legal opinion
in the form of a brief, a testimony that has not been solicited by any of
the parties, or a learned treatise on a matter that bears on the case.
The decision whether to admit the information lies with the discretion
of the court) accompany appeals.
Atkins v. Virginia (2002) Ans✓✓✓ the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6 to 3
that executions of mentally retarded criminals are "cruel and unusual
punishment" that violates the 8th amendment to the Constitution.
The APA submitted amicus briefs that clearly influenced the majority
opinion and the opinion quoted research from the APA amicus brief.
Bowers v. Hardwick (1986) Ans✓✓✓ the APA offered an amicus brief
challenging the basis of laws that made sodomy between consenting
members of the homosexual community illegal
, The brief brought psychological research findings to bear on several
MYTHS offered as justification for the "sodomy laws"
Psychological research found NO support for the myth that this
behavior reflected mental illness, that members of the gay community
were threat to public health, or that they are unusual.
conduit-educator Ans✓✓✓ the expert regards his or her own field as
the first priority.
Confidentiality Ans✓✓✓ is a particular concern for trial consultants,
who must avoid unreasonable intrusion into the private lives of others,
including members of focus groups or mock juries.
Evaluation Ans✓✓✓ is a primary responsibility of many forensic
psychologists with clinical psychology backgrounds, who act as
evaluators and potential expert witnesses.
Examine a criminal defendant to determine if he or she has damage to
the brain
The assessment of other, non-neuropsychological characteristics of
defendants is another task
Determining psychopathy (1% of the general population, but comprises
15-25% of the prison population)
expert witnesses Ans✓✓✓ witnesses that may express opinions, for
they are presumed to possess special knowledge about a topic,
knowledge that the average juror does not have.
