Book contents
- The Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Legal Decision-Making
- Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology
- The Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Legal Decision-Making
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Editors
- Contributors
- Part I Introduction Chapters
- Part II Pretrial Phase Decision-Making
- Part III Trial Phase Decision-Making
- Part IV Postconviction Phase Decisions
- Part V Other Legal Decision-Making
- 34 Decision-Making in Immigration Court
- 35 Evaluation Decisions by Psychologists about Causation and Damages in Personal Injury and Employment Discrimination Cases
- 36 Factors Influencing the Decision to Commit White-Collar Crime
- 37 Tort Law Decision-Making
- 38 Judicial Decision-Making in Juvenile Dependency and Juvenile Justice Cases
- 39 Legislative Decision-Making
- 40 Decision-Making in Alternative Dispute Resolution
- 41 Criminal Decision-Making
- 42 Social Worker Decision-Making
- 43 Decision-Making in Civil Matters
- Part VI Perspectives from the Field
- Part VII Conclusion
- Index
- References
35 - Evaluation Decisions by Psychologists about Causation and Damages in Personal Injury and Employment Discrimination Cases
A Pragmatic Five-Stage Model for Courts
from Part V - Other Legal Decision-Making
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 February 2024
- The Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Legal Decision-Making
- Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology
- The Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Legal Decision-Making
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Editors
- Contributors
- Part I Introduction Chapters
- Part II Pretrial Phase Decision-Making
- Part III Trial Phase Decision-Making
- Part IV Postconviction Phase Decisions
- Part V Other Legal Decision-Making
- 34 Decision-Making in Immigration Court
- 35 Evaluation Decisions by Psychologists about Causation and Damages in Personal Injury and Employment Discrimination Cases
- 36 Factors Influencing the Decision to Commit White-Collar Crime
- 37 Tort Law Decision-Making
- 38 Judicial Decision-Making in Juvenile Dependency and Juvenile Justice Cases
- 39 Legislative Decision-Making
- 40 Decision-Making in Alternative Dispute Resolution
- 41 Criminal Decision-Making
- 42 Social Worker Decision-Making
- 43 Decision-Making in Civil Matters
- Part VI Perspectives from the Field
- Part VII Conclusion
- Index
- References
Summary
Psychologists are often called in personal injury and workplace discrimination cases to help determine the extent of psychological damages (e.g., psychological trauma). We apply a rigorous five-stage temporal model to guide forensic evaluators in providing a robust, evidence-based psychological perspective on the nature and extent of the injury, how that injury arose, and the effects of that injury in the future. Functionality of the plaintiff is assessed in daily activities, in the workplace, in intimate relationships, in social and recreational activities, and in relation to their family. Systematic analysis of the functioning of the plaintiff in these areas from the period before the legally relevant event until litigation concludes allows decisions to be made about the nature and source of any impairments. This method includes consideration of alternative hypotheses, integral to decisions about causation. Psychologists’ decisions thus affect outcomes for injured parties. Future research and practice implications are discussed.
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- The Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Legal Decision-Making , pp. 540 - 554Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024