Some contrarian concerns about law, psychology, and public policy

Law Hum Behav. 2002 Oct;26(5):565-74. doi: 10.1023/a:1020260123477.

Abstract

I discuss six issues that may cut against the majoritarian grain. They are: (1) The U.S. Supreme Court's view of children; (2) the American Psychological Association's view of people with mental retardation; (3) the dilution of autonomy in favor of beneficence; (4) Tarasoff's undermining of fidelity to therapy clients; (5) the misuse of the PCL-R in death penalty litigation; and (6) the criminal law's rejection of determination.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Capital Punishment / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Child
  • Child Welfare / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Criminal Law / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Duty to Warn / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability
  • Mental Competency / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Societies, Scientific
  • Supreme Court Decisions
  • United States