Question 1

In most states that have a Tarasoff-type rule, when a client threatens someone, a therapist must ________

Accepted Answer

make a reasonable effort to warn potential victims

Question 2

What doctrine came out of the original Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California et al. case?

Accepted Answer

The duty to warn

Question 3

What was unusual about the Hinckley case?

Accepted Answer

He was successful in pleading the insanity defense

Question 4

Which of the following can be committed against their will to a psychiatric hospital?

Accepted Answer

Kathie, who has schizophrenia and has been threatening to hurt people on the street

Question 5

One difference between voluntary hospitalization and involuntary commitment is that people who are in the hospital voluntarily ________

Accepted Answer

can, with sufficient notice, leave the hospital when they want to

Question 6

The Tarasoff rule usually applies ________

Accepted Answer

only if the target of violence is clearly identifiable

Question 7

Suppose a family is quite alarmed about the threatening behavior of a relative. They want to petition the court for commitment but there is no time to get a court order. What option does the family have?

Accepted Answer

After getting a physician to state that the person is dangerous, they can have the police pick up and detain the person for up to 72 hours

Question 8

What kind of mistake do most mental health professionals make when assessing dangerousness?

Accepted Answer

They overpredict violence

Question 9

Although the most disordered persons show no tendency toward violence, an increased risk of violence is likely among those who ________

Accepted Answer

currently experience psychotic symptoms

Question 10

Under what circumstances can a therapist violate a client's confidence?

Accepted Answer

When someone is in danger

Question 11

Once a person is committed to a mental hospital ________

Accepted Answer

the hospital must report to the court as to whether continued confinement is necessary

Question 12

Which phrase best captures how well mental health professionals do in predicting the occurrence of dangerous acts?

Accepted Answer

Not as well as we would like

Question 13

Once a person has been involuntarily committed to a mental institution, he or she ________

Accepted Answer

may refuse treatment

Question 14

The underlying basis of the insanity defense is ________

Accepted Answer

some people who have a mental illness are not able to fully comprehend their behavior, so are not able to form the needed intent for a crime, so should not be punished

Question 15

Predicting dangerousness is most comparable to ________

Accepted Answer

preparing a weather forecast

Question 16

Emergency hospitalization without a commitment hearing is permitted when ________

Accepted Answer

a physician signs a formal statement saying that imminent danger exists

Question 17

One of the main reasons it is so hard to predict future dangerousness is ________

Accepted Answer

situational circumstances play as large a role as an individual's personality traits

Question 18

What is one of the best predictors of future violence?

Accepted Answer

Past history of violence

Question 19

Homicidal behavior amongst former patients is greatest with a diagnosis of ________

Accepted Answer

alcoholism

Question 20

Tarasoff-style laws are ________

Accepted Answer

in a majority of states but vary quite a bit

Quiz 17: Contemporary and Legal Issues in Abnormal Psychology