law and psychology

An abnormal obsession with children as sex objects. A person who acts upon this obsession, by molesting a child, taking explicit photographs, and performing other acts specified by law, is guilty of a crime.

Definition

A self-defense claim that a defendant is incapable of distinguishing between right and wrong or of controlling his or her impulses as a result of being subjected to prolonged physical or mental abuse, i.e. as a result of, inter alia, battered-child syndrome or battered-woman syndrome.

See also

• The New York Times: "Lorena Bobbitt Acquitted in Mutilation of Husband"

Definition

1) Abuse, generally: physically, sexually, or mentally injuring a person.

2) Child abuse: physically, sexually, or mentally injuring a child either with intent or through neglect.

3) Substance abuse: excessively using or misusing a legal or illegal substance.

4) In bankruptcy: filing under chapter 7 by a debtor whose monthly, disposable income exceeds $10,950 or 25% of his or her non-priority unsecured debt (if at least $6,575) for a five-year period is presumptively abusive, requiring dismissal or conversion to chapter 13.

Tendency to engage in repeated criminal behavior.  Usually refers to the condition of being convicted for a crime, serving the sentence, and then committing another crime that results in a new conviction and sentence.  High rates of recidivism in a jurisdiction may indicate that other jurisdictions have better correctional programs for persons convicted of a crime. 

A tendency to look first for information that confirms a desired conclusion.  As a result, a theory may be reinforced to such a high extent that later discovered negating information appears to reinforce a minority view at best.

See Biased assimilation.

A habitual criminal. A repeat offender.