Module 8: Overview & Outcomes
Overview
This module will help you become more familiar with treatment options for individuals with mental health disorders, and will introduce you to some basic concepts and controversies related to how mental illness and the law interact.
During this module, you are introduced to topics such as forensic psychology, the insanity defense, and criminal and civil commitment concerns.
Course Outcomes (CO)
The course outcomes that will be addressed in this module are:
CO2: Interpret and evaluate individual and group differences and similarities and explain how they may be influenced by factors such as race, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, class, religion, and/or disabilities. (Gen Ed Outcome 4.2)
CO3: Apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological science and practice. (Program Outcome 3)
CO4: Analyze historical and contemporary concerns related to abnormal psychology and related issues.
CO5: Apply concepts in abnormal psychology to situations occurring in daily life.
Module Outcomes (MO)
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
MO1: Describe a biological approach used to treat abnormal behavior. (CO4)
MO2: Describe the importance of prevention in mental health care. (CO5)
MO3: Explain the roles social values and culture play in psychological treatment. (CO2)
MO4: Discuss controversial legal issues involving people with mental illness. (CO3)
Module 8: Learning & Assessment Activities
During this module you will:
Read:
Required
Read and complete all interactive activities/videos and quizzes in REVEL Abnormal Psychology text:
Chapter 16: Psychological Treatment
Chapter 17: Contemporary and Legal Issues in Abnormal Psycholog
Module notes
View:
Required
All videos in REVEL webtext Chapters 16 & 17
REVEL videos (embedded in text):
16.1 History of the Treatment of Psychological Disorders
16.2 Regression to the Mean
16.3 Assessing Treatment Effectiveness
16.5 Finding a Therapist if You Need One
16.6 SSRIs in Action
17.1 Prevention Programs
TEDTalks: Rebecca Brachman–Could a drug prevent depression and PTSD? Links to an external site.[Video file][18 min 24 sec]. (2016). Retrieved December 14, 2016, www.ted.com https://www.ted.com/talks/rebecca_brachman_could_a_drug_prevent_depression_and_ptsd?utm_source=tedcomshare&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=tedspread
Discuss:
M8D1: Could A Drug Prevent Depression and PTSD?
Submit:
REVEL Webtext Assignments: Module 8
Use the EC Library resources and the EC Online Writing Laboratory (OWL) to properly cite your work (Login to the EC Library is required):
EC Online Writing Laboratory (OWL)Links to an external site.
Citing SourcesLinks to an external site.
Plagiarism & CopyrightLinks to an external site.
Module 8: Module Notes: Abnormal Behavior and the Law
Though many of us have a passing understanding of how mental illness and the law interact, not many would be able to join into the conversation given in the scenario and clarify matters for Bob and Samantha. As you review the material in this module, consider their discussion and how you might have addressed their arguments.
Select the Scenario button to learn more.
Scenario
In this module, you will explore how mental illness is viewed from a legal perspective.
You have been introduced to forensic psychology, the discipline that focuses on the interaction between law and mental illness. As you study, you will find that there are many new concepts, terms, and definitions associated with this area such as:
Forensic psychology
Criminal commitment
Not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI)
M’Naghten test
Irresistible impulse test
Durham test
American Law Institute (ALI) test
Guilty but mentally ill
Guilty with diminished capacity
Mentally-disordered sex offenders
Sexually-violent predator laws
Mental incompetence
Civil commitment
Two-physician certificate (2 PC)
Right to treatment
Right to refuse treatment
Code of ethics
Confidentiality
Duty to protect
Module 8: Scenario: Abnormal Behavior and the Law
Bob: “They should have never let that guy out in the first place.”
Samantha: “But what were they going to do? He had not even done anything yet!”
Bob: “I don’t care. They knew he was off. They should have just locked him up and thrown away the key!”
Samantha: “Bob, that isn’t how the law works and you know it.”
Bob: “Well if that is not how it works, then that is how it should work. If they had locked him up, none of it would ever have happened.”
Samantha: “Well, you do sort of have a point there. Still, I would hate to be in their shoes.”
Bob: “I bet you anything; he will plead insanity and get off scot-free.”
Samantha: “You know, I do not know much about that stuff, but I do not think it is that easy. If it were, you would think we would hear about it more often.”