The Implicit Relation Of Psychology And Law: Women And Syndrome Evidence (critical Psychology Series)

The Implicit Relation of Psychology and Law The Implicit Relation of Psychology and Law brings an innovative, feminist analysis to these affiliated fields. Fiona E. Raitt and M. Suzanne Zeedyk explore the role of psychological syndromes (i.e. Battered Woman’s Syndrome, Rape Trauma Syndrome, Premenstrual Syndrome and False Memory Syndrome) within the courtrooms of the UK and the US. In addition to the explicit relationship between the two fields, they argue that there is an unrecognised implicit relation existing within the intersection of psychology and law, which they find works to the disadvantage of women. Both novel and controversial, and written in a highly accessible style, The Implicit Relation of Psychology and Law will engage readers from a wide range of disciplines including: psychology, law, critical theory, criminology and women’s studies. Fiona E. Raitt is a solicitor and a senior lecturer in law. M. Suzanne Zeedyk is a lecturer in psychology and co-editor of the Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. Both are at the University of Dundee. The Implicit Relation of Psychology and Law Women and syndrome evidence Fiona E. Raitt and M. Suzanne Zeedyk London and Philadelphia First published 2000 by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE http://www.psypress.co.uk Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Taylor & Francis Inc 325 Chestnut Street, Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2001. © 2000 Fiona E. Raitt and M. Suzanne Zeedyk All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Raitt, Fiona E. The implicit relation of psychology and law : women and syndrome evidence / Fiona E. Raitt and M. Suzanne Zeedyk. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Law–Psychological aspects. 2. Women–Psychology. 3. Women–Legal status, laws, etc. I. Zeedyk, M. Suzanne (Mary Suzanne), 1963– II. Title. K346. R35 2000 340'.19–dc21 ISBN 0–415–14782–4 (hbk) ISBN 0–415–14783–2 (pbk) ISBN 0-203-13193-2 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-203-17912-9 (Glassbook Format) 00–028088 To Elizabeth Craig Morrin who shared with me her extraordinary sense of justice and lived her life by example Winifred Gene Zeedyk who, by believing in her boundaries, allowed me to break free of my own Jan Stephens who has nourished in me and so many others the courage to speak our truths Contents Table of cases Preface Acknowledgements ix xiii xvii 1 Introduction 1 2 The explicit relation 11 3 The implicit relation 36 4 Battered Woman’s Syndrome 63 5 Rape Trauma Syndrome 87 6 Premenstrual Syndrome 109 7 False Memory Syndrome 135 8 Moving beyond the implicit relation 162 Notes References Name index Subject index 185 192 217 225