The legal system is based on the assumption of personal responsibility, but a dilemma exists when considering the possibility of psychological problems. Explore this dilemma and then explain your position on this issue
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: A good answer will include the following key points.
? Generally it is accepted that people should be held responsible for their actions.
? Yet sometimes mental disorders may prevent a person from understanding the difference between right and wrong or make it impossible for a person to control his or her behavior.
? It is difficult to distinguish impairments that legitimately reduce a person's responsibility for his or her actions from unjustified excuses.
? A diminished-capacity defense allowed in some jurisdictions may result in reducing the charges or punishment without exonerating the person.
? The legal recognition that some disturbed or mentally incompetent people should not be judged by the same standards as mentally healthy individuals must be balanced by society's obligation to protect its citizens from harm.
Integrative Essay Questions: Linking the Chapters
You might also like to view...
Bouchard reached which of the following conclusions?
a. Nature and nurture interact to mold personality traits. b. People have similar personality traits to the extent that they are genetically related. c. People have similar personality traits to the extent that they have common experiences. d. The heritability of personality traits is close to 0.
Ted has been an alcoholic for 20 years and is experiencing brain damage due to poor nutrition. The most likely diagnosis in this case is
a. beriberi. b. Alzheimer's disease. c. Huntington's chorea. d. Korsakoff's psychosis.
Laura likes to eat Mexican food, but she always eats way too much. Even though Laura is full, she orders caramel flan (her favorite Mexican dessert) just because she enjoys it. According to the textbook, what is the most likely reason that Laura does this?
A. Food culture B. Social referencing C. Appetite D. Volatile odorants
This is a primitive form of learning in which some young animals follow and form an attachment to the first moving object they see and hear
What will be an ideal response?