The Cognitive and Social Psychological Bases of Bias in Forensic Mental Health Judgments

Abstract

This chapter reviews the basic psychological science of bias in human judgment as relevant to judgments and decisions (assessments and recommendations made) by forensic mental health professionals. The legal system itself and many people involved, such as jurors, assume mental health experts can be and typically are "objective" and protected against bias. Moreover, many experts themselves believe they can control their various biases in order to practice objectively. Indeed, psychology ethics codes and guidelines require that practicing psychologists be objective. However, basic psychological science from several branches of the discipline suggests these assumptions about experts' protection from bias are wrong, with empirical studies now showing clear evidence of (unintentional) bias in forensic mental experts' judgments and decisions. The chapter explains how and why human judgments are susceptible to various kinds of bias, with a specific emphasis on expert judgments, particularly, but not exclusively, within the domain of forensic psychology. It discusses the implications across these findings. The chapter closes with a discussion of directions for future research and practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)