Psychological Science in the Courtroom

Jennifer L. Skeem, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychology and Social Behavior at the University of California, Irvine, where she is also a member of the MacArthur Research Network on Mandated Community Treatment, the Center for Psychology and Law, and the Center for Evidence-Based Corrections. Dr. Skeem conducts research on such topics as psychopathic personality disorder, violence risks, and psychiatric treatment outcomes of offenders. She is a recipient of the Saleem Shah Award for Early Career Excellence in Psychology and Law, awarded jointly by the American Psychology-Law Society (Division 41 of the American Psychological Association) and the American Academy of Forensic Psychology. Kevin S. Douglas, LLB, PhD, is Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Law and Forensic Psychology Program in the Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Canada. He conducts research on forensic assessment and violence, with a specific focus on violence risk assessment. Dr. Douglas is a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Career Scholar and a recipient of the Saleem Shah Award for Early Career Excellence in Psychology and Law. Scott O. Lilienfeld, PhD, until his death in 2020, was a Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Psychology at Emory University. He was Editor-in-Chief of Clinical Psychological Science and Associate Editor of Archives of Scientific Psychology, and served on the editorial boards of several other journals. Among Dr. Lilienfeld’s principal interests were cognitive biases and their relations to personality and psychopathology, scientific thinking and its application to psychology, the causes and assessment of personality disorders (especially psychopathic and narcissistic personality disorders), psychiatric classification and diagnosis, pseudoscience and clinical psychology, evidence-based clinical practice, and the philosophy of science and psychology. He was a recipient of the James McKeen Cattell Award for Distinguished Achievements in Applied Psychological Science from the Association for Psychological Science and served as president of the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology and the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy.

"Unusually cohesive for an edited volume, this book brings the latest scientific research in forensic psychology to bear on some of the major controversies currently confronting the justice system. The authors describe myths and misconceptions about behavior in forensic contexts, detail the research that debunks those myths, and identify gaps in our existing knowledge. Providing a well-written and concise overview of many important research areas in both clinical and experimental forensic psychology, the book would be an excellent text for an upper-level undergraduate seminar or capstone course in forensic psychology, or for a graduate proseminar. It is also a valuable resource for practitioners and scholars who seek to understand what psychological science has to contribute to ongoing debates at the intersection of psychology and law."--Margaret Bull Kovera, PhD, Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York"Outstanding. Skeem et al. present essential information in areas ranging from eyewitness testimony and memory bias to interviewing, interrogation, criminal profiling, and polygraphy. The contributors are top experts in the field whose chapters are comprehensive and scholarly, but also accessible and engaging to read. Discussions of key controversies, myths, and misconceptions--alongside coverage of established facts and knowledge gaps--bring an intriguing spice to the mix. Forensic psychologists will find this volume indispensable. Its content and accessibility also make it a superb choice as a text for courses in law and psychology."--Christopher J. Patrick, PhD, Hathaway Distinguished Professor and Director of Clinical Training, Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota "By focusing on controversies, this book goes right to the heart of the disputes over the reasoning and theories used by forensic experts. As a forensic mental health expert, you’d better know the possible lines of attack on your opinions. The book’s breadth ensures it will be helpful in preparing for almost any case, and its sophistication will clarify your thinking, whether you’ve worked on one case or one thousand."--Peter Ash, MD, Director, Psychiatry and Law Service, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University "A valuable addition to the law and mental health literature. This volume provides a concise and balanced review of contemporary issues in forensic psychology. The editors and the impressive contributing authors have succeeded in creating a repository and critical analysis of the research to inform readers about the state of the science. What sets this book apart--and makes it particularly valuable for students, practicing mental health professionals, and attorneys who deal with psychological evidence in the legal environment--is its engaging and consistent style, the depth and breadth of the subjects, and its analytic rigor. Social workers who testify in child welfare and probate matters, appear as experts in court, conduct custody evaluations, and work in legal settings will gain important knowledge to prepare them for these roles."--Robert G. Madden, LCSW, JD, Master of Social Work Program, University of Saint Joseph - A welcome addition to the literature on legal and forensic psychology....The editors have compiled a book that covers a number of critical areas in forensic/legal psychology and have assembled a host of well-regarded researchers to discuss the relevant science on these issues....The research coverage is top caliber....An excellent resource. --PsycCRITIQUES, 5/10/2009ƒƒ A fascinating compilation, with 17 chapters that give brief, apparently objective....overviews of such diverse topics as so-called repressed memory, forensic hypnosis, eyewitness reliability, interrogation, projective testing, malingering and deception, criminal profiling, psychological pseudoscience, child custody evaluations, trial competence, violence risk, and offender rehabilitation. --Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 5/10/2009

• I. Psychological Science and Its Application in Courts of Law1. Standards of Legal Admissibility and Their Implications for Psychological Sciences, David L. Faigman and John Monahan2. Daubert and Psychological Science in Court: Judging Validity from the Bench, Bar, and Jury Box, Bradley D. McAuliff and Jennifer L. GroscupII. Memory and Suggestibility3. The Scientific Status of Repressed and Recovered Memories of Sexual Abuse, Deborah Davis and Elizabeth F. Loftus4. Forensic Hypnosis: The State of the Science, Steven Jay Lynn, Elza Boycheva, Amanda Deming, Scott O. Lilienfeld, and Michael N. Hallquist5. Expert Testimony Regarding Eyewitness Identification, Brian L. Cutler and Gary L. Wells6. Techniques and Controversies in the Interrogation of Suspects: The Artful Practice versus the Scientific Study, Allison D. Redlich and Christian A. Meissner7. Reliability of Child Witnesses' Reports, Maggie Bruck and Stephen J. CeciIII. Specific Tests and Techniques8. The Psychopathy Checklist in the Courtroom: Consensus and Controversies, John F. Edens, Jennifer L. Skeem, and Patrick J. Kennealy9. Projective Techniques in the Courtroom, James M. Wood, M. Teresa Nezworski, Scott O. Lilienfeld, and Howard N. Garb10. Psychophysiological Detection of Deception and Guilty Knowledge, William G. IaconoIV. Forensic Evaluation of Psycholegal Issues11. Criminal Profiling: Facts, Fictions, and Courtroom Admissibility, Richard N. Kocsis12. The Science and Pseudoscience of Assessing Psychological Injuries, William J. Koch, Rami Nader, and Michelle Haring13. Controversies in Child Custody Evaluation, William T. O'Donohue, Kendra Beitz, and Lauren Tolle14. Controversies in Evaluating Competency to Stand Trial, Norman G. Poythress and Patricia A. ZapfV. Courtroom Sentencing: Risk and Rehabilitation15. Violence Risk Assessment: Core Controversies, Kirk Heilbrun, Kevin S. Douglas, and Kento Yasuhara16. Appropriate Treatment Works, But How?: Rehabilitating General, Psychopathic, and High-Risk Offenders, Jennifer L. Skeem, Devon L. L. Polaschek, and Sarah ManchakVI. Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions17. Finding Common Ground between Scientific Psychology and the Law, John P. Petrila