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Not the keys to paradise
BOOK REVIEWS ON THE COUCH, PLEASE, INSPECTOR
Handbook of Psychology in Legal Contexts R Bull and D Carson eds (John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichestei; 1995, 678pp, index, ISBN 0 471 94182 4; £60.00) This book comprises several authoritative contributions of those involved at the interface of law and psychology. The writers take a fresh look at the legal approach to the use of psychology - as Brian Clifford points out, the 'abbatoir of sacred cows' in that lawyers seem to dispute all that psychologists hold dear, talking of 'reasons' rather than 'causes' of behaviour, for example. David Carson describes the law as a 'value free activity' in that it is a 'given' in that the lawyer must abide by it and act within it, whatever his private thoughts; whilst in psychology, challenging and improving the content of a job and the way it is performed is an integral part of the task. As a lawyer, I think of the latter as one of the functions of the Court of Appeal and House of Lords, but, as Carson rightly points out, until the system is changed the lawyer has to operate within the existing structure, coping with or taking advantage of its fallibility. Gisli Gudjonsson writes with clarity about the purpose of assessment and the role of the forensic psychologist. There are useful chapters on education and clinical assessments of children, explaining the legal and practical framework for testing. Kark Nunkoosing writes on learning disability, its definition and assessment. For those of us involved in child and family law, it would be useful to have in a future edition an additional section on the effect of learning difficulty on parenting skills. The book tackles in some detail the role of psychology in assessment of evidence, the methodological approaches, value of research, and ways in which it can be used to evaluate earwitness and eyewitness accounts of events. Gutter Kohnken discusses guidelines for interviewing adults, whilst Ray Bull examines interviewing techniques in respect of children, and those with 'communication disabilities'. David Farrington writes on the psychology of crime, and the factors that influence offending. David Canter looks at the psychology of 'offender profiling', a scientific technique which has developed rapidly in the last ten years; other chapters examine the themes of violence and punishment, dangerousness and risk. For civil lawyers there are contributions on assessment of compensation for brain and psychological injury. Sexism and antidiscrimination legislation are included, adversarial and inquisitorial proceedings, and judicial decision making in the context of both ordinary and complex trials. This is a readable, interesting book, which provides a basic overview of each of these themes, and more, and which will be of interest to those who, like the contributors, work on the interface of psychology and law. This book is a 126
contribution to greater mutual understanding, and supportive of the aims of the Forensic Science Society in encouraging better communication between disciplines in the furtherance of better forensic practice. B Mitchels NOT THE KEYS TO PARADISE
The Pathology of Drug Abuse SB Karch (CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993, 403pp, index, ISBN 0 8493 4418 2; £56.00) Drug abuse continues inexorably to plague modern society, with its consequent morbidity and mortality, both direct and indirect, rising to unacceptable levels. It is timely, therefore, to see the publication of this text, the first devoted entirely to the pathological effects of drugs of abuse. Steven Karch has succeeded in bringing together into one volume information which has hitherto been scattered in numerous papers and textbooks. The reader will note that both alcohol and marijuana have been deliberately excluded from the book. The author has omitted alcohol because, as he rightly states, this is a vast subject requiring a text to itself to do it justice. Marijuana has been left out for precisely the opposite reason; namely that at the time of writing the text, very little relevant pathology had been reported in this area. The length of the various sections reflect the importance in relation to abuse of each group of substances and the extent of study in each area. As expected, cocaine and narcotics between them comprise over two thirds of the text. Other sections include naturally occurring stimulants such as caffeine, khat etc., synthetic stimulants such as the amphetamines and mescaline analogues. The other two sections comprise the indole alkylamines, arylhexylarnines and anabolic steroids. and phenylalkylamines - - Each section begins with a well researched and very lucid historical introduction. This is followed by a general description which includes the chemistry, metabolism, blood levels in relation to fatal dose of each type of substance and finally the pathological effects on the body. In some sections (cocaine and narcotics) the pathology is described and discussed in great detail, whereas in others, clinical and autopsy studies are sparse or non specific. Karch has gathered together a substantial literature to produce an authoritative text, indispensable to all toxicologists, clinicians and pathologists involved in the investigation of drug abuse cases. In the time that the book has been in my possession, I have found it a pleasure to read and a useful reference. Thoroughly recommended!
P Vanezis Science & Justice 1996; 36(2): 126-128
Handbook of Psychology in Legal Contexts R Bull and D Carson eds (John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichestei; 1995, 678pp, index, ISBN 0 471 94182 4; £60.00) This book comprises several authoritative contributions of those involved at the interface of law and psychology. The writers take a fresh look at the legal approach to the use of psychology - as Brian Clifford points out, the 'abbatoir of sacred cows' in that lawyers seem to dispute all that psychologists hold dear, talking of 'reasons' rather than 'causes' of behaviour, for example. David Carson describes the law as a 'value free activity' in that it is a 'given' in that the lawyer must abide by it and act within it, whatever his private thoughts; whilst in psychology, challenging and improving the content of a job and the way it is performed is an integral part of the task. As a lawyer, I think of the latter as one of the functions of the Court of Appeal and House of Lords, but, as Carson rightly points out, until the system is changed the lawyer has to operate within the existing structure, coping with or taking advantage of its fallibility. Gisli Gudjonsson writes with clarity about the purpose of assessment and the role of the forensic psychologist. There are useful chapters on education and clinical assessments of children, explaining the legal and practical framework for testing. Kark Nunkoosing writes on learning disability, its definition and assessment. For those of us involved in child and family law, it would be useful to have in a future edition an additional section on the effect of learning difficulty on parenting skills. The book tackles in some detail the role of psychology in assessment of evidence, the methodological approaches, value of research, and ways in which it can be used to evaluate earwitness and eyewitness accounts of events. Gutter Kohnken discusses guidelines for interviewing adults, whilst Ray Bull examines interviewing techniques in respect of children, and those with 'communication disabilities'. David Farrington writes on the psychology of crime, and the factors that influence offending. David Canter looks at the psychology of 'offender profiling', a scientific technique which has developed rapidly in the last ten years; other chapters examine the themes of violence and punishment, dangerousness and risk. For civil lawyers there are contributions on assessment of compensation for brain and psychological injury. Sexism and antidiscrimination legislation are included, adversarial and inquisitorial proceedings, and judicial decision making in the context of both ordinary and complex trials. This is a readable, interesting book, which provides a basic overview of each of these themes, and more, and which will be of interest to those who, like the contributors, work on the interface of psychology and law. This book is a 126
contribution to greater mutual understanding, and supportive of the aims of the Forensic Science Society in encouraging better communication between disciplines in the furtherance of better forensic practice. B Mitchels NOT THE KEYS TO PARADISE
The Pathology of Drug Abuse SB Karch (CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993, 403pp, index, ISBN 0 8493 4418 2; £56.00) Drug abuse continues inexorably to plague modern society, with its consequent morbidity and mortality, both direct and indirect, rising to unacceptable levels. It is timely, therefore, to see the publication of this text, the first devoted entirely to the pathological effects of drugs of abuse. Steven Karch has succeeded in bringing together into one volume information which has hitherto been scattered in numerous papers and textbooks. The reader will note that both alcohol and marijuana have been deliberately excluded from the book. The author has omitted alcohol because, as he rightly states, this is a vast subject requiring a text to itself to do it justice. Marijuana has been left out for precisely the opposite reason; namely that at the time of writing the text, very little relevant pathology had been reported in this area. The length of the various sections reflect the importance in relation to abuse of each group of substances and the extent of study in each area. As expected, cocaine and narcotics between them comprise over two thirds of the text. Other sections include naturally occurring stimulants such as caffeine, khat etc., synthetic stimulants such as the amphetamines and mescaline analogues. The other two sections comprise the indole alkylamines, arylhexylarnines and anabolic steroids. and phenylalkylamines - - Each section begins with a well researched and very lucid historical introduction. This is followed by a general description which includes the chemistry, metabolism, blood levels in relation to fatal dose of each type of substance and finally the pathological effects on the body. In some sections (cocaine and narcotics) the pathology is described and discussed in great detail, whereas in others, clinical and autopsy studies are sparse or non specific. Karch has gathered together a substantial literature to produce an authoritative text, indispensable to all toxicologists, clinicians and pathologists involved in the investigation of drug abuse cases. In the time that the book has been in my possession, I have found it a pleasure to read and a useful reference. Thoroughly recommended!
P Vanezis Science & Justice 1996; 36(2): 126-128