PSYCH 198 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Actus Reus, Psychological Evaluation, Irresistible Impulse
Document Summary
The branch of psychology that applies to gathering, scrutinizing, and interpreting of information for legal purposes. Includes: profiling, evaluation of mental capacity, treatment, sentencing recommendations. Prosecution: accuser or victims, called the plaintiff. Actus reus: latin for guilty act , refers to the external element. Mens rea: latin for guilty mind , refers to the mental element. Concurrence refers to the fact that both of these must be present to constitute a crime (except in certain cases) Temporal: actus reus and mens rea happen at the same time. Motivational: mens rea motivates the actus reus. Right to counsel: can also work in regards to forensic psychologists; if the suspect needs a psychological evaluation, the court would cover the expenses. Jenkins v. united states (1962: allowed psychologists and other relevant specialists to give expert testimony on mental disorders. Insanity is used less than 1% of cases: mental disease or defect. Battered person syndrome: volitional insanity / irresistible impulse.