Question 1

What is the fastest growing branch of forensic psychology?
A) legal
B) family
C) correctional
D) juvenile

Accepted Answer

Correctional psychology is the fastest growing branch of forensic psychology, largely due to the increasing need for psychological services in correctional settings, including assessment, treatment, and consultation, as prison populations continue to grow.

Question 2

Assessing the mental needs of incoming prison inmates is a task performed by a __________ psychologist.
A) police
B) delinquent
C) criminal
D) correctional

Accepted Answer

Correctional psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of individuals who are incarcerated or who have been released from prison. Correctional psychologists are responsible for assessing the mental needs of incoming prison inmates to determine the most appropriate treatment plan.

Question 3

Which specialization is considered an applied branch of psychology?
A) cognitive
B) developmental
C) experimental
D) forensic

Accepted Answer

Forensic psychology is considered an applied branch of psychology, as it involves the application of psychological concepts, theories, and research to legal or criminal justice systems. It combines the principles of psychology with law and can be used for various purposes, such as assessing and treating offenders, evaluating eyewitness testimony, and providing consultation to legal professionals.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

An internship is a type of training that can be offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and it provides students with real-world exposure to the field. Students are able to gain hands-on experience and develop skills that will benefit them in their future careers. Diplomates and licensure are typically offered at the post-graduate level, and a dissertation is a specific type of research project that is required for completion of a doctoral degree.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that rejection by peers is a key factor in the development of serious violent offending. This is often accompanied by a lack of positive social relationships and feelings of isolation, which can lead to aggression as a means of gaining status and attention. While poor academic performance and excessive television viewing may contribute to certain types of delinquent behavior, they are not consistently associated with serious violent offending. Authoritative teaching, on the other hand, can actually serve as a protective factor against delinquency and crime.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

The use of an empirically supported intervention (cognitive-behavioral therapy) indicates that Dr. Brown is using an evidence-based approach, which emphasizes the use of interventions that have been shown through research to be effective. The other options (correctional, victimless, motivational) do not accurately describe Dr. Brown's approach.

Question 7

The American Psychological Association accepted forensic psychology as a specialization in the year ______.
A) 1991
B) 1995
C) 2001
D) 2005

Accepted Answer

The American Psychological Association (APA) officially recognized forensic psychology as a specialization in 2001.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

Fitness for duty evaluations fall under police psychology, as they involve assessing whether an individual is fit to perform their job duties in law enforcement. Child custody evaluations fall under legal psychology, as they involve assessing the best interests of the child in a legal custody dispute.

Question 9

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.

Accepted Answer

According to data from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, juvenile violent crime has been steadily decreasing since the mid-1990s. While there may be occasional spikes in crime rates, the overall trend is downward.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

The history of forensic psychology can be traced back to late 19th-century experiments involving eyewitness identification. In 1893, psychiatrist Albert von Schrenck-Notzing conducted experiments on eyewitness testimony, which were among the earliest efforts to explore the reliability of eyewitnesses in criminal cases.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Family forensic psychologists would be concerned with visitation rights for a same-sex couple who were not legally married since they specialize in issues related to divorce, custody, and child welfare.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Victimology is the study of crime victims, including their experiences of harm and the effects of crime on society. It involves understanding the patterns of victimization, the characteristics of victims, the types of crimes committed against them, and the ways in which they cope with and recover from victimization. Rehabilitation psychology is focused on helping offenders to reform and reintegrate into society, while heuristics refers to problem-solving strategies and decision-making processes. Correctional psychology focuses on the mental health and well-being of prisoners and the effects of imprisonment on both inmates and staff.

Question 13

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.

Accepted Answer

While forensic psychology is generally understood to be the intersection between psychology and the legal system, there is no universal agreement on a precise definition or scope of practice. Different organizations and regions may have different interpretations of the field, leading to some ambiguity and variation in expectations for practitioners.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

LPA stands for Licensed Psychological Associate, which is a professional licensed by the state to provide psychological services under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. They typically have master's degrees in psychology and have received clinical training.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

Studies have consistently shown that the effects of criminal victimization on adults are pervasive and persistent, meaning they have a widespread and long-lasting impact on individuals.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

The question refers to the subspecialty of forensic psychology that involves consulting with school staff to identify potentially troubled and dangerous youth. This falls under the category of forensic school psychology, which is focused on applying forensic principles to the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents in educational settings. Legal psychology typically focuses on the application of psychology to legal issues more broadly, while victim's witness psychology pertains specifically to providing support and assistance to crime victims. Correctional psychology deals with the assessment and treatment of individuals who are already in the criminal justice system.

Question 17

Psychologists who use valid and reliable methods are engaging in ______.
A) evidence-based practice
B) questioned document analysis
C) risk assessment
D) professional accountability

Accepted Answer

Psychologists who use valid and reliable methods are engaging in evidence-based practice. This means that they are making decisions based on the best available research and empirical evidence, rather than relying on intuition, personal biases, or unsupported assumptions. Evidence-based practice is widely recognized as a key component of professional accountability in psychology and other fields, as it helps to ensure that practitioners are providing effective and ethical services to their clients.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

Magaletta et al. (2013) found that while graduate programs provided some training in various forensic psychology subspecialties, such as legal and juvenile, they failed to adequately prepare students for correctional psychology. Specifically, the study found that only 46% of programs offered courses or training related to correctional psychology, which includes working with individuals who are incarcerated or involved in the criminal justice system.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

Psychologists are trained to address mental health issues, conduct assessments, and provide therapy, but determining the correct medication dosage is typically the responsibility of a psychiatrist or other medical doctor, not a psychologist. This is because prescribing medication requires a medical degree, which psychologists do not have unless they also hold an MD or similar qualification.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

The 1982 product tampering case involving cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules is one of the most infamous product tampering cases in history. The FDA's forensic lab played a crucial role in investigating the case and ultimately led to improved tamper-evident packaging on all pharmacy products. The Unabomber and the Hillside Strangler were not cases involving product tampering, and the security breach at Target stores was a more recent event.

Quiz 1: Introduction to Forensic Psychology

What is the fastest growing branch of forensic psychology?

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

Which specialization is considered an applied branch of psychology?

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

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

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.

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

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

Which statement concerning youth violence is most accurate?

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

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

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 ______.

Which statement about forensic psychology is correct?

The term LPA refers to ______.

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

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

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

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?

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

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