Forensic Psychology Howitt Chapter 25 Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of predicting risk in forensic psychology?

Predicting the seriousness of the offense

Predicting the likelihood of offending (correct)

Predicting the behavior of other inmates

Predicting the criminal history of an individual

What does predicting dangerousness in forensic psychology involve?

Assessing the likely consequences of an offense (correct)

Evaluating the public's perception of danger

Determining the criminal intent of the individual

Establishing how likely an individual will offend

What was a significant outcome of the Tarasoff court case?

Psychologists can detain individuals at will

Victims are responsible for protecting themselves from threats

Psychologists are not liable for threats made by clients

Mental health professionals must inform potential victims of threats (correct)

What does the revised Tarasoff ruling indicate about the responsibility of psychologists?

They must use reasonable care to protect potential victims Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a possible prediction combination in forensic psychology?

High risk and low dangerousness Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important for psychologists to assess risk and dangerousness?

To protect both the general public and individuals from harm Signup and view all the answers

What was an initial response of the campus police regarding Prosenjit Poddar's threats?

They detained Poddar briefly before releasing him Signup and view all the answers

In forensic psychology, which is a responsibility of practitioners according to the content provided?

Protecting staff in institutional settings Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between clinical judgment and statistical assessment in risk evaluation?

Clinical judgment is based on the clinician's experience, while statistical assessment uses evidence from previous cases. Signup and view all the answers

Which model is NOT mentioned as a type of clinical decision-making in risk assessments?

Circular model Signup and view all the answers

Why do clinical judgments often fail in predicting future violence according to Dernevik?

Diagnostic categories may be too broad and not predictive of behavior. Signup and view all the answers

According to studies reviewed by Clark (1999), what is the overall effectiveness of clinical risk assessment?

It is weak at best and often ineffective. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors can lead to errors in clinical judgment?

Overconfidence in initial evaluations. Signup and view all the answers

What type of danger is associated with the linear model of clinical decision-making?

Imminent danger. Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of human information processing that affects clinical judgments?

Clinicians may over-focus on a few factors and miss others. Signup and view all the answers

What type of assessment shows stronger predictive validity according to findings on clinical vs statistical assessments?

Statistical or actuarial assessments. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of individuals predicted not to be reconvicted was accurately identified?

88% Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the predictors identified by Gretenkord (2000) for violent recidivism?

History of substance abuse Signup and view all the answers

Which age group shows the highest likelihood of violent reoffending according to the predictors identified?

20 years old with aggressive treatment history Signup and view all the answers

What is a static factor in predicting future offending?

Age at first offence Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of static factors on predictions of recidivism as an offender ages?

The risk predicted by an early offence might decline Signup and view all the answers

What is a tendency that can lead to poor decision-making in clinical assessments?

Identifying illusory correlations Signup and view all the answers

Which predictor is associated with future domestic violence rather than other types of violence?

Prior violent offence Signup and view all the answers

What factor is highlighted as potentially unreliable in psychiatrist assessments?

Clinical judgment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes dynamic factors in the context of offending prediction?

Factors that can influence future behaviour Signup and view all the answers

According to Blackburn (2000), what can improve clinical decision-making performance?

Provision of structured guidelines Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the actuarial approach in predicting future offending is true?

It utilizes a combination of various predictors Signup and view all the answers

Which method did Hollin and Palmer (1995) suggest performs better than individual assessments?

Actuarial methods of prediction Signup and view all the answers

What is one basis for empirically based statistical prediction methods?

Comparing individual characteristics with previous offenders Signup and view all the answers

What are life tables primarily used for in the context of actuarial prediction?

Predicting risks like car crashes Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT generally included in impairment assessments according to the actuarial method?

Specific judgment of the assessor Signup and view all the answers

Why is individual feedback often missing in clinical assessments when predicting reoffending?

Lack of follow-up post-assessment Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal regarding true positives and true negatives in prediction accuracy?

Maximize True Positives and True Negatives while minimizing False Negatives and False Positives Signup and view all the answers

When is prediction accuracy best achieved according to the content?

When the behavior occurs at a frequency of 50% Signup and view all the answers

In the study by Hollin & Palmer (2001), what was the overall accuracy of reconviction predictions?

72% Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of predictions of non-reconviction was found to be accurate in Hollin & Palmer's study?

76% Signup and view all the answers

Which two variables were significant predictors of reconviction in the study by Hollin & Palmer?

Age and criminal history Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary challenge in predicting violent offending as mentioned in the content?

It is very difficult due to its infrequency Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication for courts regarding predictions of dangerousness?

They must consider if detaining someone is necessary Signup and view all the answers

What proportion of all people reconvicted was correctly predicted in Hollin & Palmer's study?

36% Signup and view all the answers

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.