Abuse is an action that intentionally causes harm or injures another person. This can refer to physical abuse, psychological abuse, mental abuse, or child abuse (see below).
Abuse is also to misuse something - e.g., abuse...
law and psychology
abuse excuse
Abuse excuse is defined as a self-defense claim which is usually used in criminal cases, stating that a defendant is incapable of distinguishing between right and wrong or controlling their impulses because of being subjected to prolonged...
bias
A bias is to exhibit a pre-existing inclination or prejudice for or against someone or something.
In the context of evidence in criminal law, bias is used to describe the relationship between a party and a witness which...
confirmation bias
Confirmation bias refers to the tendency to seek out and give undue credibility to information that supports a desired conclusion. Due to confirmation bias, a party may unduly discredit contradictory information to the desired conclusion, or...
criminal insanity
Criminal insanity refers to a mental illness or disease that makes it impossible for a defendant to know they were committing a crime or to understand that their actions are wrong. A defendant found to be criminally insane can assert an...
diminished capacity
"Diminished capacity," as opposed to "not guilty by reason of insanity."
Diminished capacity is a theory that a person due to unique factors could not meet the mental state required for a specific intent crime. A diminished...
Durham test
The Durham test refers to a criminal law test used in some jurisdictions to evaluate whether a defendant is entitled to an insanity defense. The Durham test takes its name from the case Durham v. United States.
Under the...
incapacitated
The term incapacitated is referring to one's physical or mental inability to manage one's own affairs. Incapacity is a consideration in various areas of the law, notably wills and estates. Indeed, a will may be found void where it can be...
incompetence
Incompetence or incompetency usually means a lack of legal ability to do something, especially to testify or stand trial. Incompetence can be caused by various types of disqualification, inability, or unfitness. Someone who is judged...
incompetency
Incompetency is a lack of physical or intellectual ability, or to be deemed unqualified of doing something or taking responsibility. Such inability is usually caused by a mental illness or disability.
Here are examples of...