PSYCH 526 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS &
DETAILED COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
100%
Mens Rea - correct answer ✔✔guilty mind/intentional culpability
Not Guilty by Reason Insanity (or mental disease or defect) - correct answer ✔✔1) Did XXX
suffer from a mental disease or defect at the time of the commission of the act alleged in the
petition and, if so,
2) Did this cause them to lack the substantial capacity to
1) appreciate the wrongfulness of their conduct and/or
2) to conform their conduct to the requirements of the law
Assessing NGRI - correct answer ✔✔Did they plan the offense? (capacity to control)
-demonstrates control, but...
-if planned, was the reason psychotic?
Did the attempt to avoid detection? (appreciate wrongfulness)
-Evidence they understood wrong, or...
-Evidence delusional beliefs motivating need to avoid detection
Myths about NGRI - correct answer ✔✔-This is a high frequency event
--Rarely raised: only 1% of felony indictments
--generally tends to be high expert agreement
,-Defendants "get off" if found NGRI
--Individuals found NGRI likely to have psychotic disorders & mental health history
--70% had psychotic disorders
--Other possible issues?
-Neurological, Intelligence, Bipolar
Psychotic Disorders & NGRI - correct answer ✔✔Main criterion for psychotic disorders:
-Loss of contact with reality is key
-Delusions
-Hallucinations
-Disorganized behavior/thoughts
Command Hallucination - correct answer ✔✔Hallucinations that direct the patient to perform
an action
-Related to more severe mental disorder
-25% report feeling unable to resist command hallucinations
-Harm to self or others risk
Dusky standard - correct answer ✔✔refers to the defendant having sufficient present ability to
consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding, and *whether he
has a rational, as well as factual, understanding of the proceedings against him*
Malingering - correct answer ✔✔The intentional faking of symptoms for secondary gain (avoid
legal consequences)
,-This does not mean they are not mentally ill...but may exaggerate symptoms
Assessing:
-what symptoms are consistent with psychotic process?
-suggestibility to symptoms?
-reports inconsistent with presentation?
-unlikely symptoms?
-collateral information?
Detecting Deception:
Control Question Test (CQT) - correct answer ✔✔-Measuring heart rate and skin conductance
Ask control questions, then ask relevant question
Psychopathy & Polygraph Accuracy - correct answer ✔✔Do differences in manipulation skill and
physiological arousal make polygraph less accurate for high PCL-R?
Patrick & lacono (1989)
Results?
How to beat a polygraph? - correct answer ✔✔Some research can train people to beat it
-47% of guilty sample able to beat it if taught
-bite tongue/press toes on the floor during control questions
Can Police Officers Spot a Liar? - correct answer ✔✔Previous research 57% accuracy
-police officers not better than college students
, Accuracy rates were highest with experience & focusing on deceit cues related to story (65%)
Myths & Facts about Mental Illness & Violence - correct answer ✔✔-4-5% of gun-related killings
in the United States between 2001 and 2010 committed by people with serious mental illness
-Only 4% of violence is committed by someone with a serious mental illness
-Mass shootings? 22% considered mentally ill
What is the "Base Rate Bias"? - correct answer ✔✔..
Hallucinations & Violence - correct answer ✔✔30% of patients reported having had command
hallucinations to harm others during the last year
If command hallucinations, more than 2x as likely to be violent
-Result held even controlling for substance abuse
Schizophrenia alone may not matter...but specific command hallucinations increase risk
Key Point (mental illness and violence) - correct answer ✔✔It is not simply mental illness but
the nature of the symptoms
-Threat Control Override Delusions
-And/or
-Command Hallucinations?
Increased risk of violence
DETAILED COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
100%
Mens Rea - correct answer ✔✔guilty mind/intentional culpability
Not Guilty by Reason Insanity (or mental disease or defect) - correct answer ✔✔1) Did XXX
suffer from a mental disease or defect at the time of the commission of the act alleged in the
petition and, if so,
2) Did this cause them to lack the substantial capacity to
1) appreciate the wrongfulness of their conduct and/or
2) to conform their conduct to the requirements of the law
Assessing NGRI - correct answer ✔✔Did they plan the offense? (capacity to control)
-demonstrates control, but...
-if planned, was the reason psychotic?
Did the attempt to avoid detection? (appreciate wrongfulness)
-Evidence they understood wrong, or...
-Evidence delusional beliefs motivating need to avoid detection
Myths about NGRI - correct answer ✔✔-This is a high frequency event
--Rarely raised: only 1% of felony indictments
--generally tends to be high expert agreement
,-Defendants "get off" if found NGRI
--Individuals found NGRI likely to have psychotic disorders & mental health history
--70% had psychotic disorders
--Other possible issues?
-Neurological, Intelligence, Bipolar
Psychotic Disorders & NGRI - correct answer ✔✔Main criterion for psychotic disorders:
-Loss of contact with reality is key
-Delusions
-Hallucinations
-Disorganized behavior/thoughts
Command Hallucination - correct answer ✔✔Hallucinations that direct the patient to perform
an action
-Related to more severe mental disorder
-25% report feeling unable to resist command hallucinations
-Harm to self or others risk
Dusky standard - correct answer ✔✔refers to the defendant having sufficient present ability to
consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding, and *whether he
has a rational, as well as factual, understanding of the proceedings against him*
Malingering - correct answer ✔✔The intentional faking of symptoms for secondary gain (avoid
legal consequences)
,-This does not mean they are not mentally ill...but may exaggerate symptoms
Assessing:
-what symptoms are consistent with psychotic process?
-suggestibility to symptoms?
-reports inconsistent with presentation?
-unlikely symptoms?
-collateral information?
Detecting Deception:
Control Question Test (CQT) - correct answer ✔✔-Measuring heart rate and skin conductance
Ask control questions, then ask relevant question
Psychopathy & Polygraph Accuracy - correct answer ✔✔Do differences in manipulation skill and
physiological arousal make polygraph less accurate for high PCL-R?
Patrick & lacono (1989)
Results?
How to beat a polygraph? - correct answer ✔✔Some research can train people to beat it
-47% of guilty sample able to beat it if taught
-bite tongue/press toes on the floor during control questions
Can Police Officers Spot a Liar? - correct answer ✔✔Previous research 57% accuracy
-police officers not better than college students
, Accuracy rates were highest with experience & focusing on deceit cues related to story (65%)
Myths & Facts about Mental Illness & Violence - correct answer ✔✔-4-5% of gun-related killings
in the United States between 2001 and 2010 committed by people with serious mental illness
-Only 4% of violence is committed by someone with a serious mental illness
-Mass shootings? 22% considered mentally ill
What is the "Base Rate Bias"? - correct answer ✔✔..
Hallucinations & Violence - correct answer ✔✔30% of patients reported having had command
hallucinations to harm others during the last year
If command hallucinations, more than 2x as likely to be violent
-Result held even controlling for substance abuse
Schizophrenia alone may not matter...but specific command hallucinations increase risk
Key Point (mental illness and violence) - correct answer ✔✔It is not simply mental illness but
the nature of the symptoms
-Threat Control Override Delusions
-And/or
-Command Hallucinations?
Increased risk of violence
