Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 18, 2026
08:12
A Psychophysics Paradigm for the Collection and Analysis of Similarity Judgments
Published on: March 1, 2022
3.0K
APA's amicus curiae program: Bringing psychological research to judicial decisions
Nathalie Gilfoyle1, Joel A Dvoskin2
1American Psychological Association.
The American Psychologist
|November 28, 2017
Summary
The American Psychological Association's (APA) amicus briefs inform courts with psychological science, promoting public welfare. These briefs advance legal decision-making and enhance the reputation of psychological science.
Area of Science:
- Psychological science
- Legal psychology
- Public policy
Background:
- The American Psychological Association (APA) aims to advance psychological science for public welfare.
- Influential organizations like appellate courts impact human welfare.
- APA's amicus briefs historically addressed issues relevant to psychologists and public policy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the evolution and impact of the APA's amicus brief program.
- To highlight how psychological science informs legal decision-making.
- To assess the broader influence of APA's contributions to legal discourse.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of APA's amicus brief content and focus over time.
- Examination of court citations and references to psychological research in legal decisions.
- Assessment of the program's role in challenging societal stereotypes through empirical research.
Main Results:
- APA briefs increasingly focus on informing courts about psychological science across various legal domains.
- The briefs effectively challenge lay stereotypes with accessible empirical research.
- APA's contributions are recognized through direct citations and broader references in legal decisions.
Conclusions:
- APA's amicus program significantly influences legal decisions by providing scientific insights.
- The program enhances the reputation and application of psychological science in the legal system.
- The ultimate goal is to facilitate more informed judicial decisions, benefiting public welfare.
Related Concept Videos
01:56Ethics in Research
25.8K
Today, scientists agree that good research is ethical in nature and is guided by a basic respect for human dignity and safety. However, this has not always been the case. Modern researchers must demonstrate that the research they perform is ethically sound.
25.8K
01:13Psychology as a Science
4.0K
Psychology, as a scientific discipline, aims to understand the mind and behavior through rigorous and systematic methods. The foundation of psychological research is evidence-based, relying heavily on the scientific method to derive and validate knowledge. This structured approach ensures that findings are reliable, valid, and applicable to broader contexts.
The scientific method in psychology involves six critical steps: making observations, formulating hypotheses, conducting tests, analyzing...
The scientific method in psychology involves six critical steps: making observations, formulating hypotheses, conducting tests, analyzing...
4.0K
01:29Contemporary Psychology
2.3K
Psychology explores human behavior and mental processes through various lenses, each offering unique insights. This overview examines key subfields, including biopsychology, evolutionary, developmental, personality, and social psychology, highlighting their approaches and contributions to understanding complex human behaviors.
Biopsychology
Biopsychology, also known as biological psychology or behavioral neuroscience, focuses on the biological underpinnings of behavior and mental processes. It...
Biopsychology
Biopsychology, also known as biological psychology or behavioral neuroscience, focuses on the biological underpinnings of behavior and mental processes. It...
2.3K
01:24Defining Psychology
8.1K
Psychology is the scientific discipline dedicated to understanding both observable behavior and the internal mental processes underlying such behavior. It aims to comprehend human nature and apply this understanding to solve practical problems, enhance well-being, and improve societal outcomes. An example of psychology's application is the study of prosocial behavior, such as why and under what conditions individuals might help strangers in need. This process involves describing observed...
8.1K
01:17Cognitivism
3.2K
Cognitive psychology emerged as a significant field in the mid-20th century. It focused on understanding humans' internal mental processes. This approach emphasizes how people perceive, remember, think, and solve problems—elements critical to human cognition.
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process...
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process...
3.2K
01:22Case Studies
13.7K
There are many research methods available to psychologists in their efforts to understand, describe, and explain behavior and the cognitive and biological processes that underlie it.
13.7K