Abstract
The study of causality and related terms has its roots in philosophy, and the concept is considered important in many contemporary fields of research. Despite its pervasiveness, there is little agreement in psychology and law about causality’s definition, underlying conceptual basis, and implications for legal actions in which psychology is at issue. A comprehensive account of causality and related terms, which can help both fields navigate the difficulties that these concepts present, is direly needed, and this book has been written to fill this void. In the first section of this chapter, we address the area of legal issues and causality, such as evidence law, torts, and how causality is treated in law. Then, in the second section, we turn to more psychological considerations, such as forensic mental health assessment (FMHA), disability, and catastrophic impairment. At the end of the chapter, we present in an appendix the concepts of reliability and validity in psychological assessment.
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Young, G., Kane, A.W. (2007). Causality in Psychology and Law. In: Causality of Psychological Injury. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-36445-2_2
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