The Scientific Basis of Child Custody Decisions, 2nd Edition

by Editor: Robert M. Galatzer-Levy (University of Chicago ); Editor: Louis Kraus (Rush Medical College, Chicago ); Editor: Jeanne Galatzer-Levy (American Medical Association, Editors )

• ISBN13: 9780470459317
• ISBN10: 047045931X
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2010-03-01
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

The legal system requires mental health professionals to provide research summaries to support their evaluations in child custody cases. Contributions from leading developmental researchers, legal professionals, and clinicians describe how scientific evidence is properly used in court. Timely and current, this book helps evaluators access the best information to fulfill their obligations to their clients and the court. The Second Edition adds chapters on family observation, parental alienation, and sexual abuse. Forensic psychologists, family lawyers, and judges will be equipped with the most current information to aid in custody decisions.

Table of Contents

Preface

Preface to the Second Edition

Introduction (Robert M. Galatzer-Levy)

References

Contributors

From Empirical Findings to Custody Evaluations

Legal and Ethical Issues in Child Custody Evaluations

Observations of Parents, Caretakers, and Children for Child Custody Assessment

Use of Psychological Tests in Child Custody Evaluations

An Updated Review of the Effects of System and Estimator Variables on Child Witness Accuracy in Custody Cases

The Importance of Attachment in Custody Evaluations: Toward the Best Interest of the Child

Improving the Quality of Parent-Child Contact in Separating Families with Infants and Young Children: Empirical Research Foundations

Divorce, Custody, and Visitation in Middle Childhood

Custody Evaluations of Adolescents

Adopted Children and Custody Arrangements

Medically Ill Children and Adolescents

Parental Sexual Orientation, Social Science Research, and Child Custody Decisions

Child Custody Evaluations of Parents with Major Psychiatric Disorders

Child Adjustment and High-Conflict Divorce

Evaluating Child Sexual Abuse Allegations

Rejection in Cases of Abuse or Alienation in Divorcing Families

Joint Custody: A Judicious Choice for Families-But How, When, and Why?

Conclusions and Prospects

Author Index

Subject Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.