In a series of studies, prototype theory was applied to describe the nature, variability, and effect of jurors' conceptions of insanity. Specifically, (a) 80 jurors described the features of their prototypes of insanity, (b) 5 jurors combined similar features to develop a core set of features to measure individual differences, and (c) 135 jurors and 236 undergraduates completed measures of indi...

In the wake of the insanity acquittal of a would-be presidential assassin, there have been several recommendations directed toward limiting or abolishing the defense of insanity for criminal charges. 1.2.3 In Maryland, the Governor appointed a task force to study the issue and to advise the community of whether reform of existing law should be undertaken. • While there is some data on the follo...

Courts in the United States do not recognize a formal “cultural defense” for criminal acts committed by defendants belonging to other cultures. This means that courts ostensibly do not take foreign cultural practices, customs, or beliefs into account in evaluating the guilt of individuals who break U.S. laws. Nonetheless, courts have repeatedly permitted cultural evidence to be introduced as an...

Mc'Naughten Rule is die commonest formulation for plea of insanity in most countries. Although assessment of the mental state at the time of offence is difficult, few instruments have been devised for this purpose. In the USA, efforts are being made to abolish the insanity defense and in the United Kingdom, amendments in the provisions of insanity defense have been proposed. The authors have st...

Abstract In this chapter we examine the contemporary medical understanding of pellagrous insanity, and conceptual diagnostic challenges posed. We do by comparing debates surrounding insanity in Italy with those waged around same time United Kingdom vis-à-vis general paralysis insane (GPI). The latter disease was eventually linked to syphilis, even if exact relationship between syphilis remained...

The main points are related to the cultural-anthropological (Michel Foucault) and theological contextualization of diseases (Jean-Claude Larchet) their treatment in Middle Ages. Based on South Slavonic hagiographic literature, terms physician healer defined specified. study focuses mental disease (insanity), which according methodology Larchet is three types: somatic nature madness, madness dem...

Epilepsy holds an almost unique place in English criminal law. It has resulted in two appeals to the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords, the highest appeal court in the land. This in turn has led to a pair of legal decisions which in many ways have shaped the development of the defence of insanity and its relationship to automatism. This report will provide a unique insight into how the c...

In 1962, the American Law Institute published its Model Penal Code, which includes an insanity test later adopted by many states. The second paragraph of the test excludes people with certain psychiatric conditions manifested by repeated criminal or antisocial conduct from using them as a basis for an insanity defense. Oregon adopted this test in 1971. Since then, its legislature and courts hav...

The author presents the case that society's efforts to understand the insanity defense and insanity-pleading defendants are doomed to intellectual, moral, and political gridlock unless we are willing to take a fresh look at the doctrine through a series of filters-empirical research, scientific discovery, moral philosophy, cognitive and moral psychology, and sociology-in an effort to confront t...