DISCUSSION-1
The Illinois ethics code on child abuse requires a psychologist to know the law and when in doubt, conduct consultations before documenting findings that can help in filling a court case. Law governs reporting a child abuse in Illinois. This protects helps as it protects the person reporting from lawsuit if the reported abuse is later not substantiated, provided the evidence provided before had seemed reasonable to support abuse and you consulted and documented your actions (Olson, Soldz & Davis, 2008). My response does not change depending on the state I am practicing because the ethic code in California and Illinois share characteristics.
DISCUSSION-2
MMMI-2 is one of the most commonly used personality assessment tools. This tool helps to assess personality traits and psychopathology. It primary aim is to conduct tests on people with mental problems or other clinical issues. Following the completion and scoring of MMPI-2, a psychologist constructs an interpretive report. These test scores helps a psychologist in conducting a personality assessment and interpretation. Being a self-report instrument, the results from MMPI-2 can provide information that can help describe a personality of an individual. MMPI-2 results have the potential of revealing information regarding psychological makeup of an individual using the 567 items to which they respond (Berghout & Zevalkink, 2009). This helps psychologists to get information that subjects may not have wanted to reveal about themselves because they might not be aware of the information they have revealed.
The MMPI-2 results provide vital information that psychologists can use in assessing personality. The test results can provide valuable information about an individual’s behavior, symptoms, interpersonal function, emotions, and the dynamics of underlying behavior. The test results provide useful information in compiling a report and comparing the results against previous reports with similar cases. The MMPI-2 test administered to a patient with varied symptoms can help in narrowing down possible diagnosis
DISCUSSION-3
The aim of the dissertation was to examine the current assessment practices in the legal domains of violence risk assessment, competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, in addition to examination of assessment of response procedures adopted by psychologists conducting forensic evaluations. The study gathered information using web-based survey to gather information to assess the practices of licensed psychologists. The results from the study supported literature regarding both important and frequently use general practice in forensic evolutions. These practices include obtaining collateral information, documentation of informed consent, conducting clinical interview and examination of mental status (Baumgart, 2011). The author found that psychological testing was ranked with moderate importance and frequency of use, thereby by supporting it use and acceptance in the field.
The author of sheds light into the field of forensic psychology with emphasis on the major component of forensic psychology, which involves the individuals involved in criminal and civil litigation. The dissertation highlights the increasing importance of the role of psychologists and psychiatrists in conducting evaluations for courts when attorneys question competency of offenders. The author is interested in determining whether evaluation competency to stand trial differs among the three groups of psychologists. In conclusion, the author concludes by confirming that competency evaluation does not differ among these three groups of psychologists.
References:
Baumgart, M. R. (2011). Differences in forensic assessment practices between professionals: A survey of licensed, board-certified clinical, and board-certified forensic psychologists. Alliant International University, Los Angeles). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 147. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/864662922?accountid=35812
Berghout, C., & Zevalkink, J. (2009). Clinical significance of long-term psychoanalytic treatment. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 73(1), 7-33. doi:10.1521/bumc.2009.73.1.7
Olson, B., Soldz, S., & Davis, M. (2008). The ethics of interrogation and the American Psychological Association: a critique of policy and process. Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine: PEHM, 33. doi:10.1186/1747-5341-3-3
