Trace the historical changes in civil commitment procedures, noting previous and current criteria

What will be an ideal response?


Historically, states have permitted commitment when several conditions have been met: (1) the person has a "mental illness" and is in need of treatment, (2) the person is dangerous to himself or herself or others, or (3) the person is unable to care for himself, a situation considered a "grave disability.". How these conditions are interpreted has varied over the years and has always been controversial. It is important to see that the government justifies its right to act against the wishes of an individual—in this case, to commit someone to a mental health facility—under two types of authority: police power and parens patriae ("state or country as the parent") power. Under police power, the government takes responsibility for protecting the public health, safety, and welfare and can create laws and regulations to ensure this protection. Criminal offenders are held in custody if they are a threat to society. The state applies parens patriae power when citizens are not likely to act in their own best interest, for example, to assume custody of children who have no living parents. Similarly, it is used to commit individuals with severe mental illness to mental health facilities when it is believed that they might be harmed because they are unable to secure the basic necessities of life, such as food and shelter (grave disability), or because they do not recognize their need for treatment. Under parens patriae power, the state acts as a surrogate parent, presumably in the best interests of a person who needs help.

Psychology

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Which of the following definitions best describes frustration?

a. A state of tension resulting from the presence of multiple competing goals b. A negative emotional state that results when efforts to pursue a goal are blocked c. Pressure or demands placed upon an organism d. An internal state of psychological or physical pain e. The accumulation of multiple daily hassles

Psychology

In the case of Mr. Z, who lives in a nursing home, what seems to be the impact of the nursing home environment on his functioning?

a. It has prevented him from getting medical care. b. It has provided opportunities for him to entertain and encourage others. c. It has reduced his capacity for helping others. d. It has fostered a sense of despair.

Psychology

According to Sternberg, friends who presently enjoy spending time together but do not feel passion for each other and are not determined to go to great lengths to stay in a long-term relationship with each other are experiencing which type of love?

a. fatuous love b. companionate love c. liking d. nonlove

Psychology

Current theorizing about the "timing of puberty" effect attributes its visual/spatial effects to

a. having a masculine self-concept and spatial experiences. b. increased lateralized specialization of the right cerebral hemisphere. c. increased synaptic activity in dopamine neural circuits. d. suppression of the essentialist bias in thinking.

Psychology