Millions of custodial suspects waive their rights each year without the benefit of legal counsel. The question posed to psychologists in disputed Miranda waivers is whether this waiver decision was, knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. Mental health professionals must be aware of potential barriers to Miranda comprehension to provide expert opinions regarding a defendant's competency to waive rights. The current study examined how Miranda warning reading level, length, and method of administration affects Miranda comprehension. Recently arrested detainees at Grayson County Jail were administered oral and written Miranda warnings from the Miranda Statements Scale (MSS; Rogers, 2005) to measure their comprehension of the warnings. Surprisingly low levels of Miranda comprehension were found for most warnings. For all warnings at or above 8th grade, a substantial minority (27.1% - 39.6%) of defendants exhibited failed (i.e., < 50% understanding) Miranda comprehension. Regardless of other variables, oral administrations resulted in a substantially larger number of defendants with failed Miranda comprehension. Implications for public policy and clinical practice are discussed.

A perícia psicológica é um recurso previsto no Código do Processo Civil para instruir litígios processuais em Vara de Família. O laudo psicológico como documento escrito resultante da avaliação psicológica pericial deve preencher requisitos formais para ser aceito enquanto prova pericial pelo Direito. O laudo psicológico deve preencher requisitos técnicos e éticos para ser considerado um trabalho cientificamente aceitável na Psicologia. Estudou-se uma amostra de 31 representações (denúncias éticas) contra psicólogos que produziram laudos no período de 1997 a 2005 julgados pelo Conselho Regional de Psicologia 06. As categorias de análise criadas a partir da literatura especializada permitiram: conhecer o motivo da representação, identificar o profissional representado e discriminar o que o laudo deve conter para ser considerado um operador de verdade. Os resultados revelaram uma amostra heterogênea. Havia apenas quatro laudos psicológicos periciais sendo que os demais documentos eram declarações, pareceres e relatórios de atendimento psicoterapêutico. O maior número de representações partiu de pessoas que não foram atendidas ou avaliadas por estes psicólogos. O grupo profissional que recebeu o maior número de representações foi o dos que realizaram psicodiagnósticos ou terapias de crianças (21 profissionais). Do total, 20 representações foram arquivadas ou terminaram em absolvição. Oito profissionais foram condenados por fazerem afirmações a respeito de pessoas sem fundamentação técnica condizente. Três casos prescreveram. Concluiu-se que existe desconhecimento por grande parte da categoria sobre o trabalho desenvolvido no campo da Psicologia Jurídica, especificamente na Vara da Família. O psicólogo judiciário que atua nesta área produzindo laudos não é o profissional mais representado no CRP-06. Quase dois terços dos trabalhos escritos foram considerados isentos de falhas técnicas ou éticas. Os laudos considerados aceitáveis pelos padrões da profissão também o são para fim de prova judicial. As falhas mais graves não são da ordem da linguagem (problemas semânticos ou sintáticos), como também não são de dificuldade de comunicação da matéria psicológica ao leitor leigo, mas de estratégias de avaliação psicológica equivocadas. Os documentos escritos foram gerados a partir de atendimentos que desconsideraram aspectos importantes das famílias envolvidas em litígios processuais. Atribuiu-se tais falhas à atuação contratransferencial, falta de familiaridade com o trabalho com famílias e desconhecimento das relações de poder no trato com advogados e juízes. Alerta-se para o risco ético de se prescrever encaminhamentos jurídicos (sentenças) como resultado da avaliação psicológica, extrapolando o objeto e o objetivo da Psicologia. Reconhece-se o processo de normalização que é efetivado pela avaliação psicológica para fim de normatização da conduta pelo Poder Judiciário como forma de dirimir o conflito social. A atuação das Comissões de Ética dos Conselhos Regionais e Federal possui importante papel para garantir o exercício da cidadania e a normatização da prática psicológica. DESCRITORES: Laudo Psicológico Prova Pericial Infrações Éticas - Avaliação Psicológica Psicologia Jurídica / Psychological evaluation is a legal asset in the due process of Family Law litigations. It must fulfill certain requirements to be accepted as a means to provide truth for the justice. It must present ethical and technical requirements to be considered a result of sound recognized psychological practice. 31 complaints of professional misconduct relating to the producing of psychological evaluation documents for Family Law courts were reviewed. These complaints were filed with Professional Board for Psychology 06 and processed during 1998 and 2005. Categories of analyses were devised through available scientific literature in the field. The reasons for the complaint, the identification of the respondent (the person that the complaint is filed against) group and the criteria to review the contested document were analysed. The result shows different kinds of written documents but only three complete psychological evaluations performed for the court. The largest group of respondents were clinical child psychologists (21 respondents). 20 complaints were either dismissed or considered that a rule violation was not established. Eight psychologists were found responsible of Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct violation by making statements about people without sufficient scientific basis. Three cases expired. There is a general lack of knowledge about forensic psychological activities in Family Law courts. The forensic psychologist whose activity is to perform child custody evaluations is not the prevalent group of respondents. Almost two thirds of all the contested written reports were considered flawless. Psychological evaluations contested but not sanctioned were found valid and useful in court. Semantic or syntax problems of language or incompetence to convey psychological subject to lay people were not the basis of filed complaints. There seems to be problems with psychological evaluation strategies instead. Important dynamic family issues were ignored leading to faulty conclusions stated on written reports. Acting out of counter transference feelings, lack of experience in work with families involved in justice, and lack of knowledge of the power struggle in dealing with lawyers and judges are thought to be reasons for the misconduct. A warning is made against psychological evaluation that addresses the merit of the case, thus performing an act alien to the object and objective of psychological practice. It is recognized that psychological evaluation leads to the normalization of human conduct then ruled acceptable or not through legal standards. Social conflicts should be ruled by courts and not by psychologists. The works of Professional Board of Psychology both regional and federal are of paramount importance for the active citizenship and responsible provision of psychological services.

O sofrimento faz parte da vida e o homem tem de dar-lhe um sentido como desafio de sua existência. No padecimento psíquico e físico surgem algumas questões fundamentais da existência humana a ser analisadas, como re-orientar a pessoa que sofre a descobrir nova adequação à realidade e a encontrar o ethos e o pathos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi pesquisar o sofrimento psíquico de pessoas sob atendimento psicológico envolvidas simultaneamente com processos em tramitação na Justiça, e intervir psicologicamente sobre o paciente e sobre seus familiares e responsáveis para encontrarem alívio às suas ansiedades, necessitando estabelecer alguns parâmetros diferenciados para o desenvolvimento da terapia. O suporte teórico adotado foi a psicanálise e outras concepções contemporâneas da mente humana. A concepção desta tese pressupõe diferentes níveis epistemológicos, articulando-se a projeção do psíquico com a vertente da psicanálise e das ciências sociais caracterizadas pela crise da representação da pós-modernidade. Os efeitos desses fatores recaem no indivíduo, na família e nas instituições. Foram estudados 10 casos, porém apenas dois foram selecionados por serem considerados emblemáticos, representando toda a amostra. A pesquisa versou baseada no Código de Ética do Psicólogo (CEP), balizando a dinâmica dos atendimentos nos casos apresentados e estabelecendo o setting como recurso para atingir um ambiente acolhedor de holding, dentro dos parâmetros permitidos sob os princípios fundamentais da Ética. Observou-se neste estudo a existência de um sofrimento psicológico singular nas pessoas que precisam da Justiça. Este sofrimento abrange danos morais, gerando instabilidade emocional e dificultando a execução das atividades que se apresentam no cotidiano. No desenvolvimento do trabalho algumas descobertas específicas motivaram certas reflexões e conclusões. A natureza da violência é singular e coletiva e surge como um problema de saúde psíquica, que acarreta por sua vez um aumento crescente da violência. Existem falhas no desenvolvimento do self, prejudicado pelas distorções de objetos internalizados e causados, por sua vez, pela situação de violência vivenciada. Quanto maior a distorção, maior o prejuízo emocional. A introjeção da figura paterna e materna pode significar um holding ou uma experiência desastrosa. A ajuda por parte dos familiares e responsáveis diante do impacto ocorrido nas diversas situações vividas pelos sujeitos é proporcional à qualidade do vínculo existente. As narrativas dos sujeitos contêm um discurso coletivo de elementos persecutórios como o desprezo, a vergonha, o medo, e o conflito intenso e contínuo. Verificou-se que tanto a vítima como o agressor, os familiares envolvidos e os responsáveis precisam de cuidados e merecem a oportunidade de receber atendimento psicológico, minimizando o impacto dos sofrimentos psíquicos diante dos processos jurídicos e aliviando os efeitos individuais e coletivos da violência. / The suffering is part of the life, and the man has as challenge of its existence to give a direction to it. In psychological and physical suffering, they appear some basic questions of the existence human being to be analyzed, such as, to reorient the person in suffering to discover new adequacy to reality, to find ethos and pathos. The objective of this work was simultaneously to follow psychological suffering of people under psychological consulting, involved with processes in transaction at justice; and to make psychological intervention with patient, family members, and responsible members to find relief for its anxieties, needing to establish some parameters, and differentiated development of psychotherapy. The adopted theoretical support was psychoanalysis and other contemporary conceptions of human mind. The adopted conception estimates different epistemological levels, articulating its projection of psychology and with the source of psychoanalysis and social sciences characterized by the after-modernity crisis of social representation. The effect of these factors fall again into the individual, its family and the institutions. 10 children and boys had been studied, but only two were selected for being considered an emblematic case, representing all population. On the basis of the Ethics Code of Psychologists, marking out with buoys dynamics of the consultees in the presented cases, establishing setting as resource to reach a holding environment, inside of the parameters allowed in the basic principles of the Ethics. The existence of a singular psychological suffering in the people was observed in this study whom they need Justice. This suffering encloses pain and suffering, generating emotional instability, and makes it difficult the execution of activities that if presents in the daily one. In the development of the work, some specific discoveries had motivated some reflections and conclusions. The nature of the violence is singular and collective, and appears as a problem of psychic health, that causes in turn an increasing increase of the violence. Imperfections in the development of self exist, wronged for the caused internalized object distortions, in turn, for the situation of lived deeply violence. How much bigger the distortion was, greater was the emotional damage. The introjection of paternal and maternal figure can mean a holding or a disastrous experience. The aid on the part of familiar and the responsible ones ahead of the impact occurred in the diverse situations lived for the citizens, the quality of the existing bond is proportional. The narratives of the citizens contain a collective speech of persecutory elements, as the disdain, the shame, the fear, and the intense and continuous conflict. As much was verified that the victim as the aggressor, familiar involved and the responsible ones, need cares and deserve the chance to receive attendance psychological, minimizing the impact of the psychic sufferings ahead of the legal processes as well as alleviating the individual and collective effect of the violence.

La prise en charge des auteurs d’infractions à caractère sexuel bouscule les professionnels du soin dans les limites de leurs compétences thérapeutiques et pose par voie de conséquence la récurrente question des chances de réinsertion sociale de ces sujets dans la société.La méconnaissance du fonctionnement intrapsychique de ces patients, l’absence de formation des professionnels à la sexualité normale et pathologique, l’effet de renforcement sur les pulsions partielles produit par internet, ou encore la spécificité du cadre thérapeutique sous contrainte sont autant d’éléments qui nous placent définitivement hors d’un champ habituel de prise en charge en santé mentale. En tentant de prendre en compte l’ensemble de ces spécificités et en explorant de façon standardisée les dimensions psychosociales, psychométriques et psycho-projectives de ces auteurs d’infraction à caractère sexuel, cette recherche vise à mettre en lumière d’une part les variables intrapsychiques qui permettraient d’améliorer les échelles d’évaluation de la dangerosité sexuelle et d’autre part les caractéristiques psychothérapiques susceptibles de répondre aux dysfonctionnements psychiques spécifiques de cette population. / The management of sexual offenders disrupts care professionals within the limits of their therapeutic skills and consequently raises the recurring question of the chances of reintegration in society.The lack of understanding of the intrapsychic functioning of these patients, the lack of training of professionals in normal and pathological sexuality, the reinforcing effect on partial drives produced by the internet, or the specificity of the court-ordered therapy’s framework are all elements which definitely puts us out of the usual mental health care field.By attempting to take into account all these specificities and by exploring in a standardized way the psychosocial, psychometric and psycho-projective dimensions of these sex offenders, this research attempts to highlight on the one hand the intrapsychic variables that would improve scales of sexual dangerosity and secondly the psychotherapeutic characteristics likely to respond to the specific psychological dysfunctions of this population.

O sofrimento faz parte da vida e o homem tem de dar-lhe um sentido como desafio de sua existência. No padecimento psíquico e físico surgem algumas questões fundamentais da existência humana a ser analisadas, como re-orientar a pessoa que sofre a descobrir nova adequação à realidade e a encontrar o ethos e o pathos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi pesquisar o sofrimento psíquico de pessoas sob atendimento psicológico envolvidas simultaneamente com processos em tramitação na Justiça, e intervir psicologicamente sobre o paciente e sobre seus familiares e responsáveis para encontrarem alívio às suas ansiedades, necessitando estabelecer alguns parâmetros diferenciados para o desenvolvimento da terapia. O suporte teórico adotado foi a psicanálise e outras concepções contemporâneas da mente humana. A concepção desta tese pressupõe diferentes níveis epistemológicos, articulando-se a projeção do psíquico com a vertente da psicanálise e das ciências sociais caracterizadas pela crise da representação da pós-modernidade. Os efeitos desses fatores recaem no indivíduo, na família e nas instituições. Foram estudados 10 casos, porém apenas dois foram selecionados por serem considerados emblemáticos, representando toda a amostra. A pesquisa versou baseada no Código de Ética do Psicólogo (CEP), balizando a dinâmica dos atendimentos nos casos apresentados e estabelecendo o setting como recurso para atingir um ambiente acolhedor de holding, dentro dos parâmetros permitidos sob os princípios fundamentais da Ética. Observou-se neste estudo a existência de um sofrimento psicológico singular nas pessoas que precisam da Justiça. Este sofrimento abrange danos morais, gerando instabilidade emocional e dificultando a execução das atividades que se apresentam no cotidiano. No desenvolvimento do trabalho algumas descobertas específicas motivaram certas reflexões e conclusões. A natureza da violência é singular e coletiva e surge como um problema de saúde psíquica, que acarreta por sua vez um aumento crescente da violência. Existem falhas no desenvolvimento do self, prejudicado pelas distorções de objetos internalizados e causados, por sua vez, pela situação de violência vivenciada. Quanto maior a distorção, maior o prejuízo emocional. A introjeção da figura paterna e materna pode significar um holding ou uma experiência desastrosa. A ajuda por parte dos familiares e responsáveis diante do impacto ocorrido nas diversas situações vividas pelos sujeitos é proporcional à qualidade do vínculo existente. As narrativas dos sujeitos contêm um discurso coletivo de elementos persecutórios como o desprezo, a vergonha, o medo, e o conflito intenso e contínuo. Verificou-se que tanto a vítima como o agressor, os familiares envolvidos e os responsáveis precisam de cuidados e merecem a oportunidade de receber atendimento psicológico, minimizando o impacto dos sofrimentos psíquicos diante dos processos jurídicos e aliviando os efeitos individuais e coletivos da violência. / The suffering is part of the life, and the man has as challenge of its existence to give a direction to it. In psychological and physical suffering, they appear some basic questions of the existence human being to be analyzed, such as, to reorient the person in suffering to discover new adequacy to reality, to find ethos and pathos. The objective of this work was simultaneously to follow psychological suffering of people under psychological consulting, involved with processes in transaction at justice; and to make psychological intervention with patient, family members, and responsible members to find relief for its anxieties, needing to establish some parameters, and differentiated development of psychotherapy. The adopted theoretical support was psychoanalysis and other contemporary conceptions of human mind. The adopted conception estimates different epistemological levels, articulating its projection of psychology and with the source of psychoanalysis and social sciences characterized by the after-modernity crisis of social representation. The effect of these factors fall again into the individual, its family and the institutions. 10 children and boys had been studied, but only two were selected for being considered an emblematic case, representing all population. On the basis of the Ethics Code of Psychologists, marking out with buoys dynamics of the consultees in the presented cases, establishing setting as resource to reach a holding environment, inside of the parameters allowed in the basic principles of the Ethics. The existence of a singular psychological suffering in the people was observed in this study whom they need Justice. This suffering encloses pain and suffering, generating emotional instability, and makes it difficult the execution of activities that if presents in the daily one. In the development of the work, some specific discoveries had motivated some reflections and conclusions. The nature of the violence is singular and collective, and appears as a problem of psychic health, that causes in turn an increasing increase of the violence. Imperfections in the development of self exist, wronged for the caused internalized object distortions, in turn, for the situation of lived deeply violence. How much bigger the distortion was, greater was the emotional damage. The introjection of paternal and maternal figure can mean a holding or a disastrous experience. The aid on the part of familiar and the responsible ones ahead of the impact occurred in the diverse situations lived for the citizens, the quality of the existing bond is proportional. The narratives of the citizens contain a collective speech of persecutory elements, as the disdain, the shame, the fear, and the intense and continuous conflict. As much was verified that the victim as the aggressor, familiar involved and the responsible ones, need cares and deserve the chance to receive attendance psychological, minimizing the impact of the psychic sufferings ahead of the legal processes as well as alleviating the individual and collective effect of the violence.

Psychological evaluations administered by forensic psychologist in personal injury cases are surrounded by complex issues. Although empirically-based research has legitimized that psychological damages do exist in personal injury cases there is a missing link in the way forensic psychologists are conducting these evaluations. Prior researchers suggested that some personal injury evaluations had been dismissed or overlooked due to a lack of a standard of care. Addressing the current literature, this study examined how a diverse group of 14 licensed forensic psychologists, operating in different judicial jurisdictions (Daubert, Frye, and Independent) were conducting personal injury evaluations and their perspectives on the implementation of a standard of care. A qualitative thematic analysis design was used to gain a more in-depth understanding of this phenomenon. Systems theory was the conceptual framework that informed this study and guided the methodology employed. The identified themes were organized into steps reflected in an adapted version cube model. The study promotes positive social change by fostering confidence in the field of psychology and personal injury evaluations with regard to bolstering the overall credibility, reliability, and validity of the practice and processes involved. Further, positive change can occur through the development of framework that assists in leveling the practice by keeping evaluations flexible, but consistent; basing the decision regarding implementing a standard of care on the utility of the framework, along with future findings and developments in the field.

Section A: This paper reviews the existing theoretical and empirical literature of relevance to offenders with severe mental illness (SMI) in the UK. Due to the lack of theory accounting for progress through forensic mental health services (FMHS) as currently constituted, the adjacent areas of mental health recovery and forensic rehabilitation are the major focus. Relevant empirical literature is synthesised and critically evaluated and this paper concludes by (a) summarising research challenges that remain pertinent to this area of enquiry and (b) outlining recommendations as to how research can usefully proceed. Section B: The UK’s increasing recognition of offenders with SMI and the lack of a theoretical account specific to this group provided the rationale for this study. The aim was to develop a preliminary model of the ways offenders with SMI progress through FMHS towards reintegration with the community. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven FMHS-users and three FMHS staff members. Grounded theory was used to build a preliminary model, which contained six main categories: learning about and managing mental health, establishing facilitative relationships with staff, moving on from prison and early experiences of FMHS, developing self-direction, doing work in therapy, and managing wider support networks. Findings extend existing literature by providing a preliminary theoretical account of the multiple domains that influence progression of offenders with SMI towards reintegration with the community. Results are discussed with regard to the existing literature and clinical implications are outlined. Recommendations for future research are made. Section C: In order to reflect upon the process of conducting this project, the author considers four questions: (1) what research skills have been developed and what skills continue to require development?, (2) what would be done differently were this project to be repeated?, (3) what changes in clinical practice will occur as a consequence of this research?, and (4) what areas would future research focus on and how would this be approached?

Existe un aumento de requerimientos de intervención de los psicólogos forenses en procedimientos de familia y es reconocida la existencia de numerosas denuncias ante las comisiones deontológicas derivadas de dichas intervenciones (Del Río, 2000; Cayuela, Jarne y Molina, 2.005). No obstante, la investigación hasta el momento sobre la práctica profesional ética en este área concreta de la psicología es escasa. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo principal el análisis del nivel de conocimiento de los principios y normas éticas y deontológicas de que disponen los psicólogos forenses que trabajan en el ámbito de los procedimientos de familia, incluyendo el análisis de la posible relación entre la frecuencia con que los psicólogos forenses expertos en familia se enfrentan a las situaciones planteadas, el nivel de adecuación de su postura ética a los estándares éticos y la valoración que dan a los diferentes tipos de recursos o estrategias que se pueden utilizar ante los dilemas éticos de la práctica diaria. La muestra de psicólogos forenses expertos en procedimientos de familia está compuesta por 81 profesionales del estado español, que han cumplimentado un cuestionario desarrollado partiendo del utilizado por Pope, Tabachnick y Keith-Spiegel (1987), adaptado al español por Del Río, Borda y Torres (2003), complementado con aspectos recogidos en el código ético del psicólogo español (COP, 1987), en las directrices para la evaluación de custodia infantil en procedimientos de divorcio (APA, 1994; 2009) y en el estudio desarrollado por Urra (2007). De los resultados obtenidos en la investigación empírica destaca que todas las situaciones planteadas han sido experimentadas en mayor o menor medida por los participantes en algún momento de su práctica profesional y que su postura ética no se adapta de forma unánime a los estándares éticos en ninguna de las situaciones planteadas. Solo en un tercio de las mismas más de tres cuartas partes de los participantes muestran una postura ética acorde con el código deontológico (COP, 1987). Respecto a las situaciones planteadas, las valoraciones éticas que llevan a cabo de manera más acorde con la norma ética son las relacionadas básicamente con temas de objetividad, informar y consentimiento informado, mientras que las relacionadas con temas de praxis, aspectos legales, honorarios, confidencialidad/secreto profesional y roles duales son las valoradas de manera más en desacorde con la normativa ética de referencia (COP, 1987). En cuanto a las fuentes de información, diez de las catorce presentadas son valoradas “positivamente” respecto a su nivel de eficacia en la promoción de la práctica ética por más del setenta por ciento de la muestra, siendo los recursos americanos y europeos los mejor valorados. Las cuatro restantes, la Comisión Deontológica del Colegio, las leyes estatales vigentes, las sentencias judiciales y el programa de licenciatura son valoradas como “más negativamente” por un mínimo del cuarenta por ciento de los participantes. Las valoraciones éticas de los psicólogos forenses expertos en los procedimientos de familia dejan entrever la necesidad de un conocimiento más profundo del código deontológico actual y un nivel de conocimientos legales insuficientes. / DOCTORAL DISSERTATION "Knowledge and application of ethical principles by forensic psychologists expert in family procedures". SUMMARY: There is an increasing requirement for forensic psychologists to act in family proceedings and the existence of numerous complaints to the ethics commissions arising from such interventions is recognized (Del Rio, 2000; Cayuela, Jarne and Molina, 2005). However, research of ethical professional practice by forensic psychologists expert in family procedures is limited. The main objective of the presented work is to study the knowledge of ethics and professional standards by forensic psychologists expert in family procedures. The secondary objectives are the analysis of the relationship between the frequency of forensic psychologists in these situations and their ethical posture, and assessment of the different types of resources that can be used in the ethical dilemmas of practice. The sample of expert forensic psychologists in family procedures is composed of 81 Spanish professionals, who have completed a questionnaire developed from the one used by Pope, Tabachnick and Keith-Spiegel (1987), a Spanish version by Del Rio, Bordas and Torres (2003), and complemented by the Spanish code of ethics for psychologists (COP, 1987), the guidelines for child custody evaluations (APA, 1994, 2009) and the study by Urra (2007). The results obtained in the empirical investigation show that all these situations have been experienced by the participants in their professional practice and their ethical posture does not fit unanimously with the ethical standards. Only one third of the participants show an ethical posture in line with the code of practice (COP, 1987). The ethical values that are held more consistently with the ethical standard are basically related to objectivity, reporting obligations and informed consent, while those related to issues of practice, legal, fees, confidentiality and dual roles disagree with the ethical standards. Ten of the fourteen information sources are assessed as "positive" about their effectiveness in promoting ethical practice for more than 70% of the sample, and American and European resources are top rated. The Practice Committee of the College, state laws, court decisions and the degree program, are rated as "more negative" for a minimum of 40% of the participants. The evaluation of the ethics held by forensic psychologists expert in family procedures shows the need for a deeper understanding of the current code of ethics and an insufficient level of legal knowledge.

This dissertation thesis called 'Lie Detection Through Verbal and Nonverbal Behavior' deals with lying and lies from the viewpoint of its types, functions and considering the development of an individual and it describes the role of lying in our lives. Lying itself is not considered as a negative term, but as a type of communication, a social phenomenon, which is a part of our everyday existence. Attention is aimed to verbal behaviour, but especially to nonverbal aspects of lying persons. Then it examines the use of information on lying and lies in the system of forensic psychology during the deception detection tests. It describes historical approaches to lie detection and its current appearance as well as some other aspects, that may be considered lying even if they are not lying at all - false memories or suggestions. The empirical part compares two research designs, one of them trying to find possible personal determinants of successful lie detectors on a group of psychology students and connecting lie detection ability with the concept of emotional inteligence. The second research analyzes the ability to detect deception among Czech police officers as a specific population group, that uses lie detection methods as a means of investigation. Keywords: lying, deception detection, nonverbal...

Este trabalho investigou práticas, conhecimento e tomada de decisão em psicólogos que atuam em situações de abuso sexual contra crianças e adolescentes e suas relações com a Justiça. Para investigar práticas, conhecimento e tomada de decisão, foram realizados quatro estudos, sendo um de revisão teórica e três empíricos quantitativos, envolvendo 95 psicólogos brasileiros. Um dos estudos investigou, também, o conhecimento sobre abuso sexual em estudantes do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, bem como em profissionais americanos. Para investigar as relações com a Justiça, foram realizados outros quatro estudos, sendo um de revisão da literatura e outros três empíricos qualitativos. Nesses estudos, foram entrevistados 20 profissionais (cinco juízes de direito, cinco promotores de justiça, cinco defensores públicos e cinco psicólogas judiciárias). De maneira geral, os resultados indicaram que os profissionais brasileiros apresentam qualificação para o trabalho com essas situações e utilizam especialmente a entrevista como instrumento principal de avaliação. Comparados aos profissionais americanos, os psicólogos brasileiros estão em desvantagem no que se refere ao conhecimento da literatura sobre abuso sexual. Em relação ao aspecto da tomada de decisão, os psicólogos decidem diferentemente sobre um caso fictício, mesmo diante das mesmas informações e são influenciados por aspectos representativos dos casos de abuso sexual. Para os operadores do Direito, a participação da Psicologia é essencial em diferentes funções no Poder Judiciário, tanto por habilidades e conhecimentos técnicos, quanto por habilidades pessoais que contribuem para o manejo das situações. O Depoimento Especial, como uma prática que envolve a relação entre essas áreas de conhecimento, mostrou-se uma estratégia que tem evoluído tecnicamente, mas que ainda necessita investimentos. As conclusões gerais da Tese apontam para a necessidade dos psicólogos investirem em instrumentos empiricamente fundamentados, no conhecimento da literatura sobre o tema, na consciência sobre os vieses que influenciam a tomada de decisão sobre os casos e na proximidade e diálogo com o Direito. / This thesis investigated practices, knowledge and decision-making in bachelors in Psychology working with sexual abuse situations and its relations with Justice. To investigate practices, knowledge and decision-making, four studies were developed: one theoretical review and three quantitative empirical studies, involving 95 Brazilian psychologists. One of these studies investigated the knowledge on sexual abuse in students from a state in the south of Brazil and students and professionals from the United States. To investigate the relations with Justice, other four studies were developed: one theoretical review and three qualitative empirical studies. In these studies, 20 professionals were interviewed (five judges, five prosecutors, five public defenders and five forensic psychologists). Results indicated that Brazilian professionals show qualification to work with these situations and they use the interview as the main instrument for evaluation. Compared to the American professionals, Brazilian psychologists are in disadvantage concerning the knowledge on sexual abuse. Regarding decision-making, the psychologists decide differently about a fictitious case, even if exposed to the same information. They are influenced by representative aspects of sexual abuse cases when they make decisions. For Law workers, the participation of Psychology is essential in different functions in the Justice System because not only do they have technical abilities and knowledge, but also they have personal abilities contributing to dealing with these situations. The Special Testimony, as a practice that involves the relations between Law and Psychology, seems to be evolving technically, but still needs improvement. General conclusions from this Thesis indicate the necessity of psychologists to invest in empirical based instruments, in literature knowledge, in the consciousness about the bias influencing decision-making on cases and in the proximity and dialogue with the Law.