The leading experts on forensic assessment in child custody decisions present up–to–date coverage based on the latest scientific findings and most current research
Fully revised and updated, The Scientific Basis of Child Custody Decisions, Second Edition gives mental health professionals the research summaries the legal system requires to support their evaluations, and presents legal professionals with a strong foundation for understanding the psychological basis of custody decisions. This thorough and up–to–date Second Edition reflects the most current research in this dynamic and expanding field and enables evaluators and legal professionals to quickly and fully access the best information to fulfill their obligations to their clients and the courts.
The new edition offers in–depth discussions of how scientific evidence is properly used in court, including the legal status of empirical studies and psychological testing. It also includes new chapters covering:
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The impact of divorce on children
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The contribution of psychological tests to custody–relevant evaluations
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Observations of families: using valid methods for custody evaluations
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Custody and visitation for infants and toddlers
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Considerations of major parental psychopathology in custody decisions
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The best interests of the children of gay and lesbian parents
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Assessing sexual abuse allegations in divorce, custody, and visitation disputes
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Evaluation of parental alienation
Presenting contributions from leading researchers in child development, expert legal profess–ionals, renowned forensic psychologists, and other mental health professionals including Jonathan Gould, Michael Lamb, Charlotte Patterson, Joan Kelly, and Leslie Drozd, The Scientific Basis of Child Custody Decisions, Second Edition enables all mental health professionals, as well as lawyers, judges, custody evaluators, and policymakers, to competently navigate the tangle of information and concepts involved in child custody decisions.
Table of Contents
Preface.Preface to the Second Edition.
Introduction (Robert M. Galatzer–Levy).
References.
Contributors.
1 From Empirical Findings to Custody Evaluations (Robert M. Galatzer–Levy, Jonathan Gould, and David Martindale).
2 Legal and Ethical Issues in Child Custody Evaluations (David A. Martindale and Norman M. Sheresky).
3 Observations of Parents, Caretakers, and Children for Child Custody Assessment (Anita Lampl).
4 Use of Psychological Tests in Child Custody Evaluations (Jonathan Gould, David A. Martindale, and James R. Flens).
5 An Updated Review of the Effects of System and Estimator Variables on Child Witness Accuracy in Custody Cases (Bradley D. McAuliff, Margaret Bull Kovera, and Livia L. Gilstrap).
6 The Importance of Attachment in Custody Evaluations: Toward the Best Interest of the Child (Louis Kraus and Kayla Pope).
7 Improving the Quality of Parent–Child Contact in Separating Families with Infants and Young Children: Empirical Research Foundations (Michael E. Lamb and Joan B. Kelly).
8 Divorce, Custody, and Visitation in Middle Childhood (Louis Kraus, Robin Shapiro, and Robert M. Galatzer–Levy).
9 Custody Evaluations of Adolescents (Sarghi Sharma and Christopher Thomas).
10 Adopted Children and Custody Arrangements (Susan M. Fisher).
11 Medically Ill Children and Adolescents (Brenda Bursch).
12 Parental Sexual Orientation, Social Science Research, and Child Custody Decisions (Charlotte J. Patterson).
13 Child Custody Evaluations of Parents with Major Psychiatric Disorders (Michael J. Jenuwine and Bertram J. Cohler).
14 Child Adjustment and High–Conflict Divorce (Robin M. Deutsch and Marsha Kline Pruett).
15 Evaluating Child Sexual Abuse Allegations (Kathryn Kuehnle and Mary Connell).
16 Rejection in Cases of Abuse or Alienation in Divorcing Families (Leslie M. Drozd).
17 Joint Custody: A Judicious Choice for Families But How, When, and Why? (Marsha Kline Pruett and Carrie Barker).
18 Conclusions and Prospects (Robert M. Galatzer–Levy).
Author Index.
Subject Index.
