How does insanity differ from abnormality? Identify one common criteria for insanity and comment on how frequently the insanity defense is used

What will be an ideal response?


Insanity is not a diagnosis; it is legal concept indicating that a person cannot be held responsible for his or her actions because of mental illness. The insanity defense is used in criminal trials by defendants who admit that they committed the crime but claim that they lacked intent. In determining whether a behavior is abnormal, clinicians rely on the following criteria: 1 . Is it deviant (violates societal norms), 2 . Is it maladaptive (impairs a person's everyday behavior), and 3 . Is it personally distressing. Defining abnormaility is not about the intent of their behavior. The vast majority of people do not qualify as insane, even those with psychological disorders. The courts apply various rules in making decisions about a defendant's sanity. One common standard is the inability to distinguish right from wrong. Although highly publicized and controversial the insanity defense is used in less that 1% of felony cases and is often unsuccessful.

Psychology

You might also like to view...

___ theory assumes that early life experiences—specifically, how you bonded with your primary caregiver—influences your relationships (including your memberships) throughout your entire life.

  a.  FIRO   b.  Social motivation   c.  Social comparison   d.  Social exchange   e.  Attachment

Psychology

Conceptualizations of cultures that focus on individualism versus collectivism suggest that people of collectivistic cultures are _____

a) autonomously self-reliant b) autonomously independent c) not heteronomous d) not autonomous

Psychology

In contrast to agonists, antagonists are drugs that

a. increase the availability of neurotransmitters. b. increase the effectiveness of neurotransmitters. c. block receptor sites. d. mimic the action of neurotransmitters. e. speed up the transmission of neural impulses.

Psychology

Any behavior that occurs infrequently among the members of a population would be considered:

a. culturally deviant b. dysfunctional c. emotionally distressing d. statistically deviant

Psychology