Deck 12: Child Custody

Question 1

The prior use of the term chattel suggested that children were considered _______________________.

A) personal property
B) the mother's possession
C) under the joint authority of both parents
D) the responsibility of the entire family of blood relatives

Answer 1

personal property

Question 2

Surveys of forensic experts reveal that they rate ____________________ as the most important criteria for determining child custody.

A) moral fitness of parents
B) absence of domestic violence
C) permanence of the family unit
D) school and community records

Answer 2

absence of domestic violence

Question 3

Which of the following criteria do experts in the Akerman and Akerman 1997) study identify as the least important in determining custody?

A) Cooperation with courts
B) Exhibit significant anger
C) Bitterness about the divorce
D) One parent is an active alcoholic

Answer 3

Bitterness about the divorce

Question 4

Which of the following is true regarding child custody evaluators?

A)Most have experience with children, adolescents , and adults.
B) Most of them have very little experience practicing psychology.
C) Most do not explain the limitations of confidentiality to their clients.
D) They spend less time conducting custody evaluations than the used to.

Question 5

Which of the following is not one of the reforms that Emery et al. 2005) recommend for child custody evaluations?

A) Limit expert testimony
B) Improve the legal standards for child custody
C) Encourage parents to reach an agreement rather than contest child custody
D) Require couples to attend counseling prior to any divorce involving children

Question 6

________ custody means that a child lives with a particular parent and that parent is primarily responsible for the daily care of that child.

A) Sole
B) Legal
C) Physical
D) Parental

Question 7

The _______________________ is now the most widely used standard for determining custody.

A) Reasonable parent standard
B) Tender-years doctrine
C) Best interest of the child
D) Least detrimental caregiver

Question 8

According to APA guidelines, which of the following is unacceptable with regard to child-custody evaluations?

A) Engaging in dual relationships
B) Recognizing one's biases and values
C) Clearly identifying the limits of confidentiality
D) Each of the above is considered unacceptable

Question 9

Most child custody experts prefer ______________________.

A) to be retained by both parents
B) for the attorney to be present during all psychological testing and interviews
C) to base their decision only on a clinical interview of all the parties involved
D) to meet with both parents simultaneously, especially in contentious custody disputes

Question 10

Which of the following has been a frequent criticism of the Best Interest of the Child Standard according to the text?

A) It fails to take the needs of the parents into account.
B)Judges lack training to make these determinations properly .
C) The definition is too narrow and specific to generalize to all situations.
D) It is an overly negative standard that fails to take into account the strengths of both parents.

Question 11

Which of the following is the most frequently administered test to parents, as a part of child-custody evaluations?

A) MMPI-2
B) Bricklin scales
C) Thematic Apperception Test
D) Rorschach Inkblot Technique

Question 12

_________________ occurs when each parent is awarded custody during different times of the year.

A) Sole custody
B) Split custody
C) Joint custody
D) Divided custody

Question 13

Bauserman 2002) concluded that _________________________, based on his meta-analysis of the literature.

A) children in divided custody experience improved family relationships
B) children in joint custody were better adjusted than children in sole custody
C) children from sole custody arrangements experiences better emotional adjustment
D) children in split custody exhibited increased self-esteem and fewer behavioral problems

Question 14

Because of its value laden nature, one of the most difficult decisions a court can make is ________________.

A) incarceration of status offenders
B) a determination of child custody
C) treatment of domestic violence perpetrators
D) criminalization of stalking former intimate partners

Question 15

Which of the following is true of child custody determinations?

A) They normally take place after one parent has been arrested.
B) The majority of divorces involve a legal conflict over custody of children.
C)Courts are less likely to adopt the opinions of forensic psycho logists than in other areas of forensic practice .
D) Psychologists are much more likely to be free from any potential biases that may be relevant in these situations.

Question 16

At what age do child custody experts believe a child should be allowed to choose a parent?

A) Approximately 9 years-old
B) Approximately 11 years-old
C) Approximately 13 years-old
D) Approximately 15 years-old

Question 17

_____________ of child custody cases involve allegations of sexual or physical abuse.

A) 3%
B) 57%
C) over one-third
D) slightly less than one half

Question 18

According to Bow and Quinnell 2001), which of the following did custody experts rate as the most important procedure in conducting a custody evaluation?

A) Home visits
B) Psychological testing of child
C) A clinical interview with the child
D) A clinical interview with both parents

Question 19

Which has not been a preference the courts have shown in awarding custody?

A) The father
B) Blood relatives
C) Heterosexual parent
D) The parent who least physically resembles a child

Question 20

In the tender-years doctrine, who is considered to be the "natural custodian of a child of tender years?"

A) The state
B) The father
C) The mother
D) The grandparents

Question 21

How are child custody evaluations different from other forensic evaluations?

Question 22

What are the legal assumptions and preferences used in child custody cases?

Question 23

According to Lutzker 2000), immediate and chronic consequences of child abuse include all of the following, except ___________.

A) social deficits
B) reduced academic performance
C) substance abuse
D) perceptual-motor deficits

Question 24

A forensic psychologist should communicate the limits of confidentiality and obtain informed consent __________________.

A) during the initial conference with the parents
B) during an individual meeting with each parent
C) immediately after the evaluation is completed
D) immediately before the information is brought into the courtroom

Question 25

Define the six types of custody arrangements. Which arrangement is considered superior to the others?

Question 26

Why are child custody evaluations particularly difficult for forensic psychologists?

Question 27

Which of the following is not a difficulty discussed in the text regarding child custody evaluations?

A) The evaluator can become a target.
B) There is a lack of empirical information.
C) The breadth and depth of knowledge required.
D) Forensic psychologists are typically incompetent to perform these evaluations

Question 28

Which of the following is not one of the factors identified by Emery 1999) related to positive adjustment in children following a divorce?

A) Financial security
B) Positive reinforcement from both parents
C) Minimal parental conflict that does not involve the child
D) A positive relationship with an authoritative parent who the child does not live with

Question 29

What are the effects of divorce on children?

Question 30

________ is a term used for a seemingly normal adjustment though childhood following the divorce of a child's parents but is then followed by an adulthood with heightened levels of anxiety and betrayal.

A) Sleeper Effect
B) Delayed Trauma
C) Childhood Divorce Trauma
D) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Question 31

What is the best practice standard for conducting child custody evaluations?

A) Observing family interactions
B) Interviewing both the mother and father
C) Conducting an interview with only the child present
D) There is no universally accepted best practice standard

Question 32

Which of the following statements regarding Parental Alienation Syndrome is true?

A) PAS is listed in the DSM-5.
B) PAS has strong empirical support.
C) PAS is increasingly being used in custody battles.
D) PAS has fallen out of favor and is no longer used in custody battles.

Question 33

_____ of abused children are likely to abuse their own children

A) 5%
B) 20%
C) 50%
D) 70%

Question 34

Approximately _____ of divorces will involve an open court custody battle.

A) 1%
B) 10%
C) 50%
D) 80%