The Scientific Basis of Child Custody Decisions

The leading experts on forensic assessment in child custody decisions present up-to-date coverage based on the latest scientific findings and most current research Fully revised and updated, The Scientific Basis of Child Custody Decisions, Second Edition gives mental health professionals the research summaries the legal system requires to support their evaluations, and presents legal professionals with a strong foundation for understanding the psychological basis of custody decisions. This thorough and up-to-date Second Edition reflects the most current research in this dynamic and expanding field and enables evaluators and legal professionals to quickly and fully access the best information to fulfill their obligations to their clients and the courts. The new edition offers in-depth discussions of how scientific evidence is properly used in court, including the legal status of empirical studies and psychological testing. It also includes new chapters covering: The impact of divorce on children The contribution of psychological tests to custody-relevant evaluations Observations of families: using valid methods for custody evaluations Custody and visitation for infants and toddlers Considerations of major parental psychopathology in custody decisions The best interests of the children of gay and lesbian parents Assessing sexual abuse allegations in divorce, custody, and visitation disputes Evaluation of parental alienation Presenting contributions from leading researchers in child development, expert legal profess-ionals, renowned forensic psychologists, and other mental health professionals including Jonathan Gould, Michael Lamb, Charlotte Patterson, Joan Kelly, and Leslie Drozd, The Scientific Basis of Child Custody Decisions, Second Edition enables all mental health professionals, as well as lawyers, judges, custody evaluators, and policymakers, to competently navigate the tangle of information and concepts involved in child custody decisions.