Essays on Psychological Assessment

There are various guidelines in the United States of America that decide how tests may be used in legal cases. The three main systems are statutory, case law, and the one that corresponds to the American Psychological Association. Even though these three have the same principles and main points, they differ on their approach and the stipulations that they set for practitioners. The more legal aspects of these procedures respond to either statute or case law. Mental health standards vary from state to state, including the competency to be applicable for capital punishment. There are federal statutes that must ...

When selecting law enforcement personnel for security agencies in the United States, it has become significantly important to ensure that they are persons who exhibit sound behavioral and emotional functioning. This is particularly true at a time when the policing agencies are faced with excessive force complaints, police suicide, community policing initiatives, allegations of hiring processes that are negligent and violence against inmates. It is thus critical for hiring agencies to make decisions that account for the applicant’s psychological characteristics when hiring. Therefore, pre-employment psychological evaluation in the policing industry is a specialty in the determination of the ...

Iinstitution Name

Children in a school setting may often act out in the classroom. They may not comprehend their curriculum and can get distracted easily. When this occurs, it is up to the teacher to determine if the child is acting out or has a learning or behavioral problem. A teacher who is concerned may try and help the student by offering a learning plan to better assist the student. If the teacher’s learning program had not been helpful for the child, another measure may need to be taken. The child may need to be evaluated for an assessment to ...

Two needs for forensic assessment in civil forensic cases

Two important types of civil cases in which forensic psychological assessment may be required are worker’s compensation and custody hearings. In the former, the client is usually asking for some sort of monetary compensation for damages that have been caused by their employees. In the second one, there is usually an underage person whose custody is being determined by the courts, as his or her parents are going through a process of separation. Obviously, these are caricatures of the complex real cases that real forensic psychologists have to face. Nevertheless, they will serve as models to explain the ...

Psychology

Introduction Psychology plays a significant role in enhancing technological development as it is connected with science like any other subject. The subject (psychology) has proofed to borrow concepts from other science subjects as well as enriching them with more information. However, different scholars fear that the area has not received adequate attention as it should as it is not considered as a subject in schools despite its significant contribution. However, it is worth acknowledging that the subject ought to be considered as a science and has considerable influence towards technological development. We live in a global setting that is ...

Psychological Testing is a field in psychological studies also referred to as psychological assessment. It is a process through which individuals in the profession of psychology try to evaluate and understand a person and his mental behavior in depth. In addition, this testing allows for the determination of one’s personality, individuality and their IQ and the mental components. In this study one gains the ability decipher a person's strengths and their weaknesses.

1.What are at least two ethical issues associated with psychological testing? What impact do these issues have on the field of psychological testing?

One of the core ethical issues is confidentiality. This is code of conduct is required to be implemented by any licensed and operating psychologist. It entails the psychologist not ...

Discussion 1

Psychological assessment is an extremely vital exercise for an individual or the community at large. It ensures that the courts give a fair ruling. There are different issues that could arise when conducting a psychological assessment in the community. This paper discusses issues that could arise when carrying out an assessment.

Competency of an individual is substantial in the court (Adler, 2004). The psychologist evaluates the mind of an individual and states if the defendant can face trial. In case the defendant is incompetent, the psychologist writes to the court to request time to prepare the defendant for legal proceedings. Additionally, ...

Abstract

In the movie Still Alice, Alice, a successful woman, after being diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's Disease (AD) loses almost all she had. Alice’s case doesn’t typically fall under the traditional age bracket for the onset of Alzheimer’s because she is only 50. However, the symptoms she displays clearly fall under the earlier DSM-IV criteria of diagnosis. Under the new DSM-5 criteria, she would still be a fit case for Alzheimer’s because she has been experiencing a gradual decline in her autonomy. She loses control over her speech, mobility and motor functions until she becomes completely dependent on ...

Introduction

Acute myocardial infarction is a complication of the heart that in which patients complain of heaviness or discomfort of the chest area. This complication is mainly as a result of a decrease in blood flow into the lungs or increase in perfusion. Diagnosis of this complication is done with great detail of the family history as well as physical examination to ascertain the levels of complication (Kapfhammer et al., 2004). In most cases, the treatment involves combating the possibility of re-infarction with much focus being given on the need to reduce any further damage of the cardiac tissue. Treatment procedures in ...

Article Review on Achieving Competency in Psychological Assessment

Article Review on Achieving Competency in Psychological Assessment

Literature Review

The article under review was authored by Radhika Krishnamurthy and associates in 2004. The article surmises the proceedings of psychological assessment work group in the Competencies Conference: Future Direction in Education and Credentialing in Professional Psychology. The objective of this group was to first, identify the core components of psychological assessment competency. Second, determining the primary educational and training requirements that will facilitate competency development(Krishnamurthy et al., 2004). Third, Identifying and explicating strategies that will help evaluate competence. Finally, developing a roadmap for future direction in identification training and evaluation of ...

1. Minnesota Multiphase Personality Inventory MMPI is an intensively researched, taught, and often used personality assessment tool. Most authors agree that that it is a meta-analytical review to demonstrate substantial reliability and good convergent validity. A researcher can use the tool to conduct sound theoretical and empirical rational concepts. Researchers that have used both MMPI and Rorschach variables observe disparate views of personality that becomes a momentous conundrum for the field of assessment. Butcher (2014) state that when clinicians face conflicts in the use of Rorschach and MMPI they should make a decision that emphasize on certain aspects of test findings ...

Most psychologists attest to the potential of computers as powerful tools to test methods during psychological assessments. The introduction of computers in the 1950s was found to be very significant in facilitating scores, data management and analysis of results. In this review article, Butcher and colleagues (2004) aim to discuss the history and state of personality and neuropsychological tests that are processed through computers and how such method may be both helpful and problematic in the interpretation of the assessments of psychological data. Further, some issues regarding test interpretations through the computer were also emphasized along with the problems ...

METHOD

PARTICIPANTS Initially, I identified 963 individuals to participate in the study. The number reduced to 876 after cleaning and identifying those that were not truthful. Eventually, I settled on a filtered sample of 625 participants. I noted the participant sample size both initially and after data cleaning. The inclusion method involved the responses from the participants. Additionally, Psychology 105 students were included in the study. The exclusion criteria involved the participants who did not respond randomly. Eligibility of participants varied from the demographics, to timeline follow back to the AEAS. Firstly, the participants were to be of both genders. ...

INTRODUCTION

Undergraduates and youths in general have different opinions on the outcome of drinking alcohol alone and mixing it with energy drinks. Their perceptions differ because of the variant experiences the individuals have had for long. There are different articles used in this report that have significant information to the opinions of undergraduates concerning the outcome of drinking alcohol alone and mixing it with energy drinks. This report includes different journal articles with different and relevant information on the mixed consumption of alcohol and energy drinks.

The Social Learning Theory

The social learning theory plays an elemental role in the identification and analysis of ...

Background

Witness Protection Programs are an extension of law enforcement that is shrouded in secrecy. Originally developed to protect organized crime witnesses, these programs now have wider application (UN, 2008). In criminal cases involving members of organized crime, witnesses testify at risk to their own lives, or personal safety, as well as those close to them. This is not the only group with whom a witness may find themselves, and their families, in peril. Over the years, Witness Protection has evolved to also include other well-resourced individuals and groups who are facing criminal conviction, such as despots and war criminals finding ...

Abstract

Most studies in existence focus on the causal relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Alcohol. Even though there some studies that have attempted to find out whether Alcoholism is most commonly as a result of ADHD, these studies have always yielded mixed findings hence the researchers have not yet been able to categorically state that ADHD is a significant causative agent in the occurrence of Alcoholism. With in mind that the exhibition of alcoholism is normally treated by therapist as one of the major symptoms of ADHD in adulthood, the topic of causal relationship between ADHD and Alcohol become of ...

Psychology

What is the significance of a detainee's biography in the forensic psychological assessment of mentally ill offenders? A forensic psychological assessment seeks to provide information to attorneys and courts for the purpose of making legal determination. The psychologist seeks to discern the relationship between the detainee’s mental disorder (if any) and the offence they are charged for (if proven). Biographical investigation is one method of performing a forensic psychological evaluation. The detainee’s biography provides background information as a source of knowledge to form the basis of a biographical investigation. A biography gives a unique and personalized narrative of an individual devoid ...

Psychology

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Abstract

Identifying and predicting psychopathic traits by analyzing childhood behaviours must be based on sound psychometrics to ensure scientifically reliable results. Statistical analysis using G-Power (computer model for calculations) aids in analyszing the results from surveys and personality assessments which are administered to teens and young adults from communities, colleges, juvenile homes and jails in order to understand how the data from self reported questionnaires can reliable be used to predict psychopathic behavior. The ability to do so would be very helpful for counseling and could possibly help avoid psychopathic behaviors in young people that are self-destructive ...

Abstract

The current research aimed at examining the relationship between psychological indicators of well-being that occur in the general population with the six facets that are comprised to the Neuroticism domain. The results indicated that the facets that are more emotional such as depression, Anxiety, and vulnerability were stronger Well Being predictors than those facets that are not highly emotional. The study aimed at investigating the relationship between psychological indicators of well-being that occur in the general population with the six facets that are comprised to the Neuroticism domain. The predictors of PWB can be arranged from the strongest predictor ...

INTRODUCTION

Depression and depression are examples of mental disorders that are usually common in women. Women usually find it difficult to balance between home duties and work. They are conditions common in developing countries where women earn low income, are exposed to health risks, and undergo domestic violence. Through advancement in technology, there are new diagnostic tools that are used to screen the population and detect those experiencing the common mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress in the community. Research has shown that anxiety and stress relate in so many ways and they have been proved to ...

The reliability, validity, as well as the utility of psychological testing and assessments can be argued on the basis of the correct choice of the right test or assessment tool. With in mind that psychological assessment and testing are a series of tests processes that employs the use of several techniques to help in the arrival of particular information regarding one’s behavior, the choice of a psychology test or assessment should be a well guided process as one of the means of ensuring that accurate information relating to the intended hypotheses are arrived at. In this regards, there exists several resources ...

Stoeber (2001) has noted in the European Journal of Psychological Assessment that social desirability bias is when people respond to interview questions in ways that will be viewed favourably by others. Usually it occurs when an individual under reports a bad behaviour or over reports a good behaviour. In these instances, the social desirability bias poses a big problem to researchers who rely on self-reports, and more so for the researchers who depend solely on questionnaires. When individuals realize that they are being watched or are being observed, they will tend to act in ways that are socially acceptable and socially ...

Ethical, Legal, and Utility Issues in Assessment

Substance abuse, especially addiction of is a serious problem in the society. Substance abuse is due to addiction, which is a disease procedure characterized by habitual use of a particular psychoactive substance. The person who has the problem of substance addiction engages in a sequence of behaviors concerning the substance abuse, which leads to dependence syndrome or abuse disorder. Therefore, there is the need to develop appropriate and reliable assessment instrument and mechanism, which will enable the physician to address the problem of substance addiction. Therefore there is a great need to consider the element of uncertainty in evaluation and during making conformity decisions.

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1. Psychological assessment is defined as the action, carried out by a competent professional, usually a psychologist, in which certain techniques and tools of psychology are used to learn either general or specific facts about another person, with the objective either to inform others of how they function at a certain moment, or to predict their functioning and possible changes in the future (Groth-Marnat, 2009). The main parts of assessment are the interview, behavioral observations and testing. As far as interviewing is concerned, the two general types of interviews are structured and unstructured interview. In terms of a structured interview the interviewee ...