1st Edition

Psychological Expertise in Court Psychology in the Courtroom, Volume II

Edited By Joel D. Lieberman, Daniel A. Krauss Copyright 2009

    Expertise in Court: Perspectives on Testimony is the second of a two-volume set on the Psychology of the Courtroom. The authors, a renowned group of psychology and legal scholars, offer definitive coverage of the use of psychological expert testimony and evidence in a variety of legal contexts. They explore the controversies that surround it, from questions of its admissibility to its effects on eventual juror decisions. A wide range of topics are covered including system and estimator variables in eyewitness identification, expert testimony on psychological syndromes, the insanity defence and sexual harassment, how child sexual abuse is used by the courts, and recent research on false confessions. They also provide a comparative analysis exploring how different types of psychological expert testimony and evidence are used by different countries’ legal systems. All the chapters conclude by making specific recommendations for how psychological research and information could be better utilized by courts around the world.

    Notes on Contributors, Series Preface, Preface to Volume II—Psychological Expertise in Court, Preface to the Two-Volume Set, Psychology in the Courtroom, 1. The Admissibility of Expert Testimony in the United States, the Commonwealth, and Elsewhere, 2. Psychological and Cultural Aspects of Interrogations and False Confessions: Using Research to Inform Legal Decision-Making, 3. System and Estimator Variables in Eyewitness Identification: A Review, 4. Insanity in the Courtroom: Issues of Criminal Responsibility and Competency to Stand Trial, 5. Psychological Syndrome Evidence, 6. Child Sexual Abuse and the Courts, 7. Sexual Harassment: Antecedents, Consequences, and Juror Decisions, Index

    Biography

    Daniel A. Krauss is Associate Professor of Psychology at Claremont McKenna College, California, USA. His research field is the interaction of law and psychology, psychological evidence and admissibility, jury decision-making and clinical forensic assessment. Joel Lieberman is Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA. His work focuses on the application of social psychological theories to criminal justice issues. His recent research has been in the areas of jury decision making, aggression and inter-group conflict. Lieberman has experience in professional consultation, has authored numerous publications, and is a member of the editorial board for several journals. He was also the recipient of the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Outstanding Teacher Award.