Deck 1: Introduction to Forensic Psychology

Question 1

Which statement most accurately summarizes a difference between forensic psychologists and forensic psychiatrists?

A) Psychologists can legally prescribe medication in all 50 states, whereas psychiatrists can only prescribe medication in the military.
B) Psychologists focus on research, whereas psychiatrists focus on application.
C) Psychiatrists hold a medical degree, whereas most psychologists do not.
D) Psychologists work primarily in institutional settings, whereas psychiatrists do not.

Answer 1

Psychiatrists hold a medical degree, whereas most psychologists do not.

Question 2

What is the common link between the broad and narrow definitions of forensic psychology?

A) the inclusion of clinicians
B) the legal system
C) violent crime analysis
D) empirical assessment practices

Answer 2

the legal system

Question 3

Which term is synonymous with forensic data recovery?

A) computer evidence recovery
B) ink data discovery
C) forensic document questioning
D) handwriting analysis

Answer 3

computer evidence recovery

Question 4

According to Heilbrun and Brooks (2010), which certifying body of board certification is the most rigorous?

A) American Board of Forensic Psychology
B) American Board of Professional Psychology
C) International Association of Correctional Psychologists
D) International Society of Forensic Psychologists

Question 5

There has been a global increase in forensic psychology graduate programs within the past few years. What conclusion can you make about the field of forensic psychology from this statement?

A) Crime is on the rise.
B) There is a need for trained mental health counselors in corrections.
C) The field has been overly glamorized in the media.
D) The field is growing.

Question 6

Which statement supports the idea that courts often lean toward a medical model approach to mental disorder?

A) Many judges prefer the involvement of psychiatrists for insanity determinations.
B) Many attorneys prefer psychologists for child custody evaluations.
C) Many judges advocate for psychologists to have prescription privileges.
D) Many attorneys advocate for psychiatrists in correctional facilities.

Question 7

The text adopts a(n) ______ definition of forensic psychology.

A) broad
B) practical
C) clinical
D) academic

Question 8

The immigrant population in the United States tends to be at the highest and lowest ends of the ______ continuum.

A) adult violent crime
B) educational
C) violent bullying
D) youth homicides

Question 9

Jan is a second-year college student who is interested in becoming a police psychologist. Which path would you suggest that she take in order to reach her goals?

A) encourage her to transfer to a university accredited in police psychology
B) encourage her to earn her undergraduate degree and then join the police academy
C) encourage her to transfer to an undergraduate school with joint-degree training
D) encourage her to earn a doctorate in psychology and gain ample exposure to police culture

Question 10

The majority of new psychology doctorates are employed in ______ settings.

A) government
B) business
C) private practice
D) human service

Question 11

Which of the following definitions would be considered a narrow definition of forensic psychology?

A) Forensic psychology is the research and application of psychological knowledge to the legal system.
B) Forensic psychology is the research endeavor that examines aspects of human behavior directly related to the legal process and the professional practice of psychology within a legal system that embraces both civil and criminal law.
C) Forensic psychology is the application and practice of psychology as it pertains to the legal system.
D) Forensic psychology refers to professional practice by any psychologist working within any subdiscipline of psychology when applying the scientific, technical, or specialized knowledge of psychology to the law to assist in addressing legal, contractual, and administrative matters.

Question 12

A forensic psychologist who specializes in victimology would most likely perform which of the following tasks?

A) train police officers on how to deal with mentally ill citizens
B) testify at a trial in which the defendant has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity
C) conduct research on the development of psychopathy
D) assess, support, and counsel those who provide death notification services

Question 13

Which specialty is one of the five major areas in forensic psychology?

A) positive psychology
B) social psychology
C) legal psychology
D) pathological psychology

Question 14

Which of the following statements about prescription privileges for psychologists is correct?

A) Recent surveys indicate that almost all psychologists are in favor of prescription privileges.
B) Some states give psychologists prescription privileges.
C) No state allows psychologists to prescribe medication.
D) Military psychologists are the only psychologists who have prescription privileges.

Question 15

Where would a forensic psychologist find the principles and standards for ethical practices?

A) The APA's Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct
B) Black's Law Dictionary
C) The Journal of Forensic Psychology
D) Clinician's Handbook of Psychological Behavior

Question 16

Mark Smith, PhD, studies the feeding patterns of insects. His findings are often used to determine the cause of death in murder investigations. Dr. Smith would be considered a(n) ______.

A) forensic psychologist
B) forensic entomologist
C) insect analyst
D) cephalic pathologist

Question 17

What do forensic psychology, forensic linguistics, and forensic archaeology all have in common?

A) They are based on scientific principles.
B) They involve the study of human pathology.
C) They are based on an unknown, deceased subject.
D) They involve the study of crime.

Question 18

Dr. Roy is a forensic psychologist who is conducting a child custody evaluation in a divorce case. Dr. Roy is practicing the forensic psychology subspecialty of ______.

A) legal psychology
B) correctional psychology
C) victimology
D) linguistics

Question 19

A forensic psychologist, who has earned a doctorate and is licensed, certified and accepted by peers as being at the highest level of excellence has likely obtained ______ certification.

A) MPH
B) LPA
C) diplomate
D) joint-degree

Question 20

The largest worldwide association of psychologists is the ______.

A) American Psychological Association
B) International Association of Forensic Psychologists
C) International Society of Clinical Psychologists
D) American Board of Professional Psychologists

Question 21

What is the fastest growing branch of forensic psychology?

A) legal
B) family
C) correctional
D) juvenile

Question 22

Assessing the mental needs of incoming prison inmates is a task performed by a __________ psychologist.

A) police
B) delinquent
C) criminal
D) correctional

Question 23

Which specialization is considered an applied branch of psychology?

A) cognitive
B) developmental
C) experimental
D) forensic

Question 24

Which type of training can be offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels and provides students real-world exposure to the field?

A) diplomate
B) dissertation
C) licensure
D) internship

Question 25

Research on crime and delinquency suggests which factor leads to serious violent offending?

A) authoritative teaching
B) rejection by peers
C) excessive television viewing
D) poor academic performance

Question 26

Dr. Brown is using an empirically supported intervention called cognitive-behavioral therapy with a group of unmotivated criminal justice clients. Dr. Brown is using a(n) ______ approach.

A) correctional
B) victimless
C) motivational
D) evidence-based

Question 27

The American Psychological Association accepted forensic psychology as a specialization in the year ______.

A) 1991
B) 1995
C) 2001
D) 2005

Question 28

Fitness for duty evaluations are to __________ psychology as child custody evaluations are to __________ psychology.

A) clinical; school
B) social; criminal
C) organizational; victim
D) police; legal

Question 29

Which statement concerning youth violence is most accurate?

A) Despite media attention, juvenile violent crime continues to decrease nationwide.
B) The steady increase in juvenile crime indicates Americans' apathy toward the educational needs of children and teenagers.
C) One's risk of being injured in school is significantly higher than one's risk of being injured in the community at large.
D) The juvenile murder rate has been increasing at a rapid rate since 1990.

Question 30

The history of forensic psychology can be traced back to late 19th-century experiments involving which topic?

A) serial murders
B) prison violence
C) child development
D) eyewitness identification

Question 31

Which forensic psychology subspecialty would be concerned with visitation rights for a same-sex couple who were not legally married?

A) correctional
B) family forensic
C) police and public safety
D) forensic school

Question 32

The study of persons who have experienced actual or threatened physical, psychological, social, and/or financial harm as the result of the actual or attempted commission of crime against them is called ______.

A) victimology
B) rehabilitation psychology
C) heuristics
D) correctional psychology

Question 33

Which statement about forensic psychology is correct?

A) There is no consensus about how it should be defined.
B) It is a clinical specialization in psychology.
C) It is a research specialization in psychology.
D) There are no guidelines for the profession.

Question 34

The term LPA refers to ______.

A) a person with a master's degree in psychology who has received clinical training and is licensed
B) psychologists with PhDs who have gained wide recognition in the field
C) social workers who are licensed as therapists and work in a forensic setting
D) undergraduate students who work as assistants in an in-patient psychiatric hospital

Question 35

Evidence suggests that the effects of criminal victimization on adults are ______.

A) temporary and varied
B) pervasive and persistent
C) intense yet fleeting
D) apparent yet untreatable

Question 36

A psychologist who consults with school staff to identify potentially troubled and dangerous youth is likely practicing the forensic psychology subspecialty of ______ psychology.

A) legal
B) forensic school
C) victim's witness
D) correctional

Question 37

Psychologists who use valid and reliable methods are engaging in ______.

A) evidence-based practice
B) questioned document analysis
C) risk assessment
D) professional accountability

Question 38

In their study of APA-accredited doctoral programs, Magaletta et al. (2013) found that graduate schools failed to adequately prepare students for which forensic psychology subspecialty?

A) legal
B) family
C) correctional
D) juvenile

Question 39

Which ethical issue would a psychologist be least likely to address?

A) answering the ultimate issue in a child custody evaluation
B) determining the correct medication dosage for a psychotic prisoner
C) conducting a risk assessment for a death penalty case
D) participating in a military interrogation

Question 40

The Food and Drug Administration's forensic lab was instrumental in investigating the 1982 product tampering case involving ______.

A) the Unabomber
B) cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules
C) the Hillside Strangler
D) a security breech at Target stores

Question 41

Provide a detailed description of one forensic science (other than psychology) discussed in the chapter. Explain why this this science is considered "forensic."

Question 42

Graduates with master's degrees in psychology and without a doctoral degree ______.

A) cannot legally practice psychology
B) cannot call themselves psychologists in most states
C) are not allowed to work in prison settings
D) are not allowed to testify in federal courts

Question 43

This text focuses on the various fields of forensic science.

Question 44

Forensic psychiatry, forensic nursing, and forensic pathology are examples of forensic sciences.

Question 45

The term forensic refers to anything pertaining or potentially pertaining to law, both civil and criminal.

Question 46

Family forensic psychologists are concerned with issues involving adoptions, elder law, and juvenile justice.

Question 47

Forensic psychology and forensic psychiatry are becoming increasingly distinct professions.

Question 48

In 2009, psychologists were granted permission to prescribe medication in all states.

Question 49

Psychologists began to testify in courts in increasing numbers during the 1940s and 1950s.

Question 50

The minimum educational requirement for psychologists is the bachelor's degree.

Question 51

According to the text, one must obtain a forensic psychology degree in order to be a competent forensic psychologist.

Question 52

Police psychology is synonymous with correctional psychology.

Question 53

Psychologists who are not themselves recent immigrants cannot understand many of the cultural and social barriers that immigrants face.

Question 54

Forensic psychology is recognized by the American Psychological Association as an applied specialty.

Question 55

The five subspecialties of forensic psychology that are illustrated in the text are all research focused.

Question 56

The authors state that psychology is a(n) ______ profession.

A) applied
B) often litigated
C) mundane
D) doctoral-level

Question 57

The five subspecialties of forensic psychology are mutually exclusive.

Question 58

Compared to the PhD, the PsyD degree is ______.

A) less research oriented
B) declining in popularity among graduate students
C) not offered by any major university
D) popular in Canada and the United Kingdom, but not in the United States

Question 59

Forensic psychology was first recognized as a specialty in 2008.

Question 60

What is the difference between standards and guidelines?

A) Psychologists are expected to adhere to guidelines; standards are aspirational.
B) Psychologists are expected to adhere to standards; guidelines are aspirational.
C) Guidelines are legal; standards are psychological.
D) Standards are psychological; guidelines are legal.

Question 61

Describe some of the psychological stressors that are unique to the immigrant population. What are the reasons for this?

Question 62

Compare and contrast the PsyD and PhD degree.

Question 63

Define the following terms as they pertain to forensic psychology: joint degree, state certification, board certification, and diplomate.

Question 64

Choose two of the forensic psychology subspecialties and discuss their similarities and differences. Include at least two tasks performed by each specialty.

Question 65

Identify three ethical issues that face forensic psychologists today.

Question 66

Differentiate between the broad and narrow definitions of forensic psychology. Why is it important to distinguish between these two definitions?