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Insanity on Trial

  • Book
  • © 1988

Overview

Authors:
  1. Norman J. Finkel

    1. Georgetown University, USA

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Part of the book series: Perspectives in Law & Psychology (PILP, volume 8)

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxiii
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  2. Historical Development of Anglo-American Insanity Perspectives

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
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    2. An Historical Look at Insanity Defenses

      • Norman J. Finkel
      Pages 3-22

    3. From M’Naghten to Hinckley

      • Norman J. Finkel
      Pages 23-48

    4. The Courtship of Law and Psychology

      • Norman J. Finkel
      Pages 49-69

  3. Background Issues—Basic Concepts, False Hopes, and Erroneous Beliefs

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 71-71
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    2. The Concept of Mental Illness (Disease)

      • Norman J. Finkel
      Pages 73-100

    3. Therapeutics for the Insane, Dilemmas for Therapists

      • Norman J. Finkel
      Pages 101-121

    4. Punishment and the Insane

      • Norman J. Finkel
      Pages 123-151

  4. Prevailing Currents, Unsettling Consequences

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 153-153
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    2. The Layman’s (Juror’s) Perspective on Insanity

      • Norman J. Finkel
      Pages 155-181

    3. Neuropsychological Perspectives on Insanity

      • Norman J. Finkel
      Pages 183-206

    4. The Patient’s Perspective

      • Norman J. Finkel
      Pages 207-238

  5. Future Directions and Recommendations

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 239-239
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    2. The Essence of Insanity

      • Norman J. Finkel
      Pages 241-277

    3. Toward a New Test for Insanity

      • Norman J. Finkel
      Pages 279-315

    4. Law and Psychology—The Courtship Reconsidered

      • Norman J. Finkel
      Pages 317-350

  6. Back Matter

    Pages 351-374
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Keywords

About this book

The insanity defense debate has come full circle, again. The current round began when John Hinckley opened fire; in 1843, it was Daniel M'Naghten who pulled the trigger; the "acts" of both would-be "insanity acquittees" provoked the press, the populace, a President, and a Queen to expressions of outrage, and triggered Congress, the House of Lords, judges, jurists, psychologists, and psychiatrists to debate this most maddening matter. "Insanity" -which has historically been surrounded by defenses, defen­ ders, and detractors-found itself once again under siege, on trial, and undergoing rigorous cross-examination. Treatises were written on the sub­ ject, testimony was taken, and new rules and laws were adopted. The dust has settled, but it has not cleared. What is clear to me is that we have got it wrong, once again. The "full circle" analogy and historical parallel to M'Naghten (1843) warrant some elaboration. Hinckley's firing at the President, captured by television and rerun again and again, rekindled an old debate regarding the allegedly insane and punishment (Caplan, 1984; Maeder, 1985; Szasz, 1987), a debate in which the "insanity defense" is centrally situated. The smolderings ignited anew when the Hinckley (1981) jury brought in its verdict-"not guilty by reason of insanity" (NGRI).

Authors and Affiliations

  • Georgetown University, USA

    Norman J. Finkel

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Insanity on Trial

  • Authors: Norman J. Finkel

  • Series Title: Perspectives in Law & Psychology

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1665-7

  • Publisher: Springer New York, NY

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

  • Copyright Information: Plenum Press, New York 1988

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-306-42899-9Published: 30 September 1988

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-1-4612-8924-1Published: 30 September 2011

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-4613-1665-7Published: 06 December 2012

  • Series ISSN: 0160-4422

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: 398

  • Topics: Law and Psychology

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