Questions and Answers
What is the primary focus of predicting risk in forensic psychology?
What does predicting dangerousness in forensic psychology involve?
What was a significant outcome of the Tarasoff court case?
What does the revised Tarasoff ruling indicate about the responsibility of psychologists?
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Which of the following describes a possible prediction combination in forensic psychology?
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Why is it important for psychologists to assess risk and dangerousness?
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What was an initial response of the campus police regarding Prosenjit Poddar's threats?
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In forensic psychology, which is a responsibility of practitioners according to the content provided?
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What is the primary difference between clinical judgment and statistical assessment in risk evaluation?
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Which model is NOT mentioned as a type of clinical decision-making in risk assessments?
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Why do clinical judgments often fail in predicting future violence according to Dernevik?
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According to studies reviewed by Clark (1999), what is the overall effectiveness of clinical risk assessment?
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Which of the following factors can lead to errors in clinical judgment?
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What type of danger is associated with the linear model of clinical decision-making?
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What is a limitation of human information processing that affects clinical judgments?
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What type of assessment shows stronger predictive validity according to findings on clinical vs statistical assessments?
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What percentage of individuals predicted not to be reconvicted was accurately identified?
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Which of the following is NOT one of the predictors identified by Gretenkord (2000) for violent recidivism?
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Which age group shows the highest likelihood of violent reoffending according to the predictors identified?
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What is a static factor in predicting future offending?
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What is the effect of static factors on predictions of recidivism as an offender ages?
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What is a tendency that can lead to poor decision-making in clinical assessments?
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Which predictor is associated with future domestic violence rather than other types of violence?
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What factor is highlighted as potentially unreliable in psychiatrist assessments?
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Which of the following best describes dynamic factors in the context of offending prediction?
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According to Blackburn (2000), what can improve clinical decision-making performance?
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Which statement about the actuarial approach in predicting future offending is true?
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Which method did Hollin and Palmer (1995) suggest performs better than individual assessments?
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What is one basis for empirically based statistical prediction methods?
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What are life tables primarily used for in the context of actuarial prediction?
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Which factor is NOT generally included in impairment assessments according to the actuarial method?
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Why is individual feedback often missing in clinical assessments when predicting reoffending?
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What is the primary goal regarding true positives and true negatives in prediction accuracy?
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When is prediction accuracy best achieved according to the content?
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In the study by Hollin & Palmer (2001), what was the overall accuracy of reconviction predictions?
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What percentage of predictions of non-reconviction was found to be accurate in Hollin & Palmer's study?
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Which two variables were significant predictors of reconviction in the study by Hollin & Palmer?
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What is a primary challenge in predicting violent offending as mentioned in the content?
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What is the implication for courts regarding predictions of dangerousness?
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What proportion of all people reconvicted was correctly predicted in Hollin & Palmer's study?
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Study Notes
Risk and Dangerousness in Forensic Psychology
- Psychologists play critical roles in safeguarding the public, preventing self-harm, and ensuring the safety of staff and inmates.
- Predictions involve assessing the likelihood of offending (risk) and evaluating the severity of potential consequences (dangerousness).
- Different levels of risk and dangerousness can occur, such as a high risk of reoffending with low potential harm.
Tarasoff Decision
- The 1970s California case involving Tatiana Tarasoff established that mental health professionals have a duty to warn potential victims when a client poses a threat.
- Following this case, psychologists are required to employ reasonable care to protect potential victims, not limited to direct warnings.
Assessment Methods
- There are two main types of assessments for risk and dangerousness:
- Clinical Judgment: Based on the clinician’s experience but often inaccurate.
- Statistical or Actuarial Assessment: Grounded in empirical evidence and tends to be more accurate than clinical methods.
Clinical Approaches
- Clinical risk assessment is often criticized for its ineffectiveness, as studies show experienced clinicians struggle to predict violence accurately.
- Common flaws in clinical judgment include:
- Overly broad diagnostic categories can hinder predictions.
- Cognitive biases lead to selective attention and reliance on initial impressions.
- Difficulty in processing too much information and inadequate feedback on predictions.
Improving Clinical Methods
- Structured guidelines can enhance clinical decision-making and accuracy.
- Individual differences and environmental stressors impact behavior but are challenging to incorporate consistently into assessments.
Statistical or Actuarial Prediction
- This method utilizes comparative analysis of characteristics of individuals against known outcomes.
- Originated from the insurance industry to evaluate risks like accidents or mortality.
- Key factors in actuarial assessments include age, gender, age at first offense, and personality traits.
Accuracy of Predictions
- True Positives and True Negatives are desirable, while False Negatives and False Positives should be minimized.
- Predictive accuracy correlates with the base rate of the event; assessing rare events like violent offenses presents significant challenges.
Continuing Detention Orders
- Certain jurisdictions may enact orders for the prolonged detention of individuals deemed a serious risk, particularly for sex offenders and violent offenders.
Predictors of Reoffending
- Significant predictors of reconviction identified include age and prior criminal history, with an observed overall accuracy rate of 72%.
- The complexity of predictions highlights the need for nuanced understanding beyond mere statistics.
Influential Predictors
- Common predictors for future offending involve:
- Age, history of criminal behavior, and substance abuse.
- Predictors vary by offense type; for example, domestic violence risk is more relevant to future domestic violence incidents.
Static and Dynamic Factors
- Static Factors: Immutable characteristics like age at first offense.
- Dynamic Factors: Attributes that can change over time, such as marital status.
- The predictive efficacy of static factors may evolve with age or circumstances, illustrating the complexity of assessing dangerousness and risk.
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Description
This quiz explores Chapter 25 of Howitt's work on forensic psychology, focusing specifically on the assessment of risk and dangerousness. Participants will examine the various responsibilities of psychologists in protecting the public and individuals from harm. Test your knowledge on crucial concepts related to forensic assessments.