Alicia Nijdam-Jones

Stalking is a behavior that negatively impacts individuals of all gender identities, and yet public threat perceptions often revolve around cisheteronormative relationship stereotypes. The present qualitative study aimed to explore how observers construct threat perceptions associated with stalking, focusing on perpetrator and victim gender (man, woman, nonbinary) and relationship type (stranger, ex-intimate). Undergraduate psychology students ( N = 243) completed an online vignette survey, answering four exploratory open-ended questions that detail concerns related to the perpetrator’s and victim’s behavior and their relationship. Reflexive thematic analysis generated four themes: Perceptions of Escalation and Dangerous Behavior; Normalization, Minimization, and Justification of Stalking Behavior; Relational Dynamics and Misconceptions of Consent ; and Victim Blame and Protection Strategies . Findings suggest that gendered stereotypes and victim-blaming narratives persist among young adults. Greater public awareness of the prevalence, nature, diversity, and harms associated with stalking may lead to better protection for gender diverse victims and ensure their experiences are recognized and sincerely appreciated in social, clinical, and legal contexts.

This article explores culturally safe healing practices within Te Tari Kaupapa Māori, an Indigenous-led forensic mental health stream in Aotearoa New Zealand. Despite widespread calls for cultural safety, little research has examined how it can be enacted in forensic environments. This study addresses that gap by identifying what supports healing within this setting. Using a qualitative, Māori-centered, community-partnered design, we analyzed interviews with 15 tāngata whai i te ora (service users), 4 whānau (families), and 24 kaimahi (mental health workers). Findings show that healing is a relational, culturally grounded process structured around six interconnected dimensions. Wairuatanga (spirituality) anchors daily rhythms and meaning-making, while tikanga and kawa (protocols) guide care. Oranga whanaungatanga (relational healing) emphasizes belonging and relational accountability. Ngā kaitiaki tapu protects what is sacred and vulnerable through practices that enhance voice and provide the least restrictive care. Whānau (family members) are partners in healing, and tuakiritanga (identity) is strengthened through cultural programming and mentoring. These findings suggest that cultural safety in forensic settings is achieved by upholding models grounded in Indigenous values rather than adapting mainstream frameworks. Te Tari Kaupapa Māori offers a blueprint for reimagining what forensic mental health could be when built on relational and collective foundations.

This chapter provides an overview of the strengths and limitations of multiscale inventories when used with culturally or linguistically diverse individuals. The primary focus of this chapter is on the MMPI and PAI instruments, as these are the most widely used multiscale inventories in routine clinical practice and in forensic mental health assessment in particular. Other, less frequently used instruments are also reviewed. The chapter includes a discussion of the availability of translated versions of these instruments, including both commercially available translations as well as those developed by (and sometimes available from) independent researchers. Concerns that arise when considering the normative data upon which test interpretations are based are addressed, along with recommendations for negotiating the potential gaps in culturally specific normative data. Finally, issues related to test selection, remote administration, and the applicability of computerized interpretive reports are addressed.

This chapter reviews cultural issues that relate to three main areas of family law: child custody, evaluations of potential child abuse, and termination of parental rights. We emphasize the importance of understanding family structure, cultural norms, and sociopolitical factors in conducting culturally sensitive evaluations as they pertain to each of these evaluation contexts. Specifically, the chapter highlights research that impacts the evaluation and decision-making processes and underscores the importance of considering culturally appropriate interventions when working with children, adolescents, and families. Psychological test use in the context of family-based evaluations, along with ethical considerations in conducting culturally sensitive evaluations or research in this area are also discussed.

4.1Comparison of Chinese and US MMPI-2 T-scores for a 43-year-old man 967.1Parenting styles 1667.2Bioecological systems model for forensic assessment 170

This chapter highlights the clinical and research literature on the assessment of risk for future violence and non-violent criminal behaviors in culturally diverse individuals. This chapter summarizes the existing research on the cross-cultural use of assessment instruments, highlighting potential sources of bias that might impact these tools. The extent of empirical support for both actuarial and structured professional judgment tools in cross-cultural settings is reviewed, along with the role of culturally specific risk factors. In addition, we review widely used tools for gauging both general (violence, non-violent criminal behavior) and specific forms of offending (e.g., sexual reoffending, intimate partner violence) in both adults and adolescents. Finally, given its central role in assessing risk of both violent and non-violent recidivism, we discuss the cross-cultural applicability of the construct of psychopathy, along with recommendations for practice.

This chapter addresses cultural influences on cognitive, intellectual, and neuropsychological assessments. Neurocognitive evaluations play a role in multiple forensic settings, including personal injury and vocational disability evaluations, criminal law issues (e.g., competency to proceed, applicability of the death penalty), and access to specialized services such as educational opportunities and resources designated for individuals with developmental disabilities. This chapter will address a range of factors that impact neurocognitive test performance, along with the importance of appropriate normative data on test administration and interpretation. Specific attention is paid to the conceptualization and measurement of intellectual functioning and the role of cognitive screening tools, followed by a review of research examining the cross-cultural use and equivalence of cognitive and neuropsychological tests. We also highlight the impact of bilingualism on test performance and the benefits and challenges when using verbal and non-verbal tests with linguistically, ethnically, and culturally diverse individuals.

Few topics are as central to forensic mental health evaluations as the assessment of response style, and more specifically, malingering. However, there is a growing recognition of the potential impact of culture and language on the assessment process, and the potential for elevated error rates when well-established tests are studied in culturally and linguistically diverse samples. The chapter will outline potential influences on the assessment of response style, as well as a review of the available research on the impact of these influences on test accuracy, focusing on both psychiatric symptom validity measures and cognitive effort tests. Although less frequently researched, issues relating to defensive responding are also addressed. We conclude with a number of recommendations for navigating these challenges in clinical practice.