Bindung von Kindern in familienrechtlichen Fragestellungen bei Gericht: Erkenntnisse und Missverständnisse

Psychological judicial expert reports for family law cases can include errors in the assessment of children’s attachments, their origins, their consequences, and the subsequent recommendation for the court. The article specifies potential sources of such errors and reviews several topics that are relevant for the evaluation and use of attachment assessments in psychological family law expert reports. These topics include attachment to mother and father, attachment hierarchy, the role of quantity and quality of contact to caregivers for attachment development and the use of results from attachment research on developmental consequences of attachment security and insecurity for psychological family law expert reports.

Biografische Vorbelastungen und verhaltensbasierte Indikatoren der Radikalisierung im Vorfeld islamistischer Gewalt

Using a German sample of convicted perpetrators (N = 76), the authors compare the biographical characteristics and preoffence warning behaviours of non-violent Islamist activists (n = 60) with those of Islamist assassins (n = 16). While the biographical characteristics focus on the socio-structural, familial and social stressors of the convicted in addition to age and education, the exploration of warning behaviour focuses on potentially observable patterns of action associated with radicalisation processes or serious targeted acts of violence. The data basis is formed by indictments and verdicts in corresponding criminal proceedings. A standardised instrument for quantitative file analysis in the context of murder and manslaughter offences was used to identify biographical characteristics and previous social burdens (Göbel et al., 2016). The Screener Islamism (Böckler et al., 2017) was used to examine early behaviour-based radicalisation indicators and the Warning Behaviour Typology (Meloy et al., 2012) was used to identify violence-associated behaviour patterns. While all Islamist offenders committed their crimes in early adulthood and had various social backgrounds in their biographies, Islamist activists and violent offenders differed significantly in the warning behaviour they displayed before committing an offence. In particular, acts of planning and preparation (pathway to violence), new forms of aggression (novel aggression), and patterns of action that indicate that the person feels he or she is at a biographical dead end (last resort) were able to differentiate between attackers and non-attackers. The results are particularly relevant from a preventive perspective, as they can be the basis for improving behaviour-based early detection of violence associated radicalisation processes in social institutions.

Nachsorge unter erschwerten Vorzeichen – Erfahrungen forensischer Nachsorgeambulanzen mit Sexualstraftätern, die nach der Novelle der Verhältnismäßigkeitsregelung entlassen wurden

A major amendment of the German Criminal Code concerning treatment in forensic psychiatric hospitals (Secs. 63, 67 StGB) became effective in August 2016 and has led to an increasing number of discharges of sex offenders. In addition to inpatient treatment practice, this also poses great challenges for forensic aftercare. After a brief overview of the amendment, this article examines how it affects the release practice and legal probation. Based on the analysis of the post-inpatient development of ten sex offenders from North Rhine-Westphalia who were released for disproportionate reasons, the far-reaching consequences of the amendment forensic aftercare have to deal with are illustrated. Finally, attention is drawn to the great need for action and alternative solutions to reduce the length of stay and strengthens the patients fundamental right to freedom are proposed.

Rezensionen, Aus der Rechtsprechung & Mitteilungen der Sektion

Neben einer von Ann-Christin Posten verfassten Rezension (Pfundmair, M. (2020). Psychologie bei Gericht) finden sich in dieser Rubrik Rechtsprechungsübersichten zur obergerichtlichen Rechtsprechung im Familienrecht (ausgewählt von Rita Coenen) und zur obergerichtlichen Rechtsprechung im Strafrecht (ausgewählt von Inga Stremlau) sowie Mitteilungen der Sektion Rechtspsychologie des BDP.

Zur Aufhebung von Scheinerinnerungen: Neue Befunde von Oeberst et al. (2021) und ihre aktuelle Übertragbarkeit in die forensische Praxis

A current finding by Oeberst et al. (2021) suggests a reversal of false memories of autobiographical events by means of source and false memory sensitization. The use of both techniques led to a significant reduction in the recollection quality of false memories in the sample examined. At the same time, the quality of memories of true experiences was barely diminished. Such results are seldom and significant, transferring them into forensic practice would be beneficial. However, if the meaningfulness and potential transferability of the results is examined more closely against the backdrop of forensic practice’s demands, it becomes apparent that using techniques in such a manner has not yet been sufficiently investigated and empirically verified. This applies to the psychological assessment of credibility as for the police questioning of witnesses. More details are discussed in the present article, whereby the study by Oeberst et al, its results, informative value and validity is successively and primarily referred to in relation to the psychological assessment of credibility.

Einschätzungen zu Bindungsbeziehungen und geäußerter Kindeswille in einer Stichprobe von Sachverständigengutachten zu Sorgerechtsstreitigkeiten (§ 1671 BGB)

For a sample of 103 court cases with parental conflicts regarding custody and residence results on attachment diagnostics by psychological court experts are reported. Attachment diagnostics was performed using multiple methods with two observations per parent. It was coded whether there were indications for a similar level of emotional security with both parents or more emotional security with one parent than the other. In addition, indications for attachment disorganization, manipulation of the child by one or both parents and children’s views regarding residence were coded. About 55% of the children showed indications for more emotional security with one than the other parent. 38% of the children did not express any preference regarding their preference. If a preference was expressed and if there were indications for more emotional security with one than the other parent, children most often wanted to live with the parent to whom they showed comparably more indications for emotional security. Manipulation, especially manipulation by both parents was associated with indications for attachment disorganization.

Bindungsbeziehungen zwischen Eltern und Kindern im Kontext von Trennung und Scheidung: Welche Rolle spielen Umfang und Qualität des Eltern-Kind-Kontakts?

Following parental separation, parents face the question of how to develop a suitable parenting plan for their children in the future. While there is a broad consensus that maintaining relationships with both parents is generally beneficial for children, there is great uncertainty about how this should be implemented in individual cases and the importance of different contextual factors. This paper provides an attachment-informed perspective on aspects of children's relationships in the context of separation and divorce that might be relevant when making decisions about parenting plans. The focus is on the amount of time and overnights spent with each parent in early childhood, when attachment relationships are still being formed. In addition to beneficial aspects, factors associated with increased stress and emotional insecurity for children, such as the role of interparental conflict and gatekeeping behavior, are also highlighted. The paper concludes with recommendations on interventions for families experiencing conflict.

Passt anscheinend: Ein Kommentar zu Bindungstheorie und Familienrechtspsychologie

Im vorliegenden Artikel werden die einzelnen Beiträge des Themenhefts aus der Perspektive eines familienpsychologischen Sachverständigen kommentiert. Dabei werden zunächst auf terminologische Verwechslungsgefahren des Bindungsbegriffs aufmerksam gemacht und die Beiträge sodann vor dem Hintergrund von vier praxisrelevanten Fragen bewertet. 1) Bedeutung von Bindung für Fragen des Lebensschwerpunktes des Kindes 2) Bedeutung von Bindung für Fragen zu Umgangskontakten 3) Bedeutung von Bindung für Fragen einer möglichen Kindeswohlgefährdung und 4) Nutzbarkeit der Instrumente der Bindungsforschung in der Begutachtung. Abschließend erfolgt ein Plädoyer für die produktive Nutzung offener Fragen zwischen Bindungstheorie und Sachverständigentätigkeit.

Erfassung von Merkmalen kindlicher Bindung in familienrechtlichen Verfahren: Methodische Überlegungen

Child attachment characteristics are important for family court decisions. This article provides a description of relevant attachment characteristics and their assessment criteria (presence of attachment, differences in attachment quality, attachment disturbances). In addition, potential problems and pitfalls of attachment assessments in psychological court expert reports are addressed, including the topics of deficits in knowledge of basic attachment concepts and behavioural criteria, poor internal validity of easy accessible diagnostic attachment or relationship tools, and the limits of transferring valid and sound attachment research methods to the psychological assessments in expert court reports. We recommend an eclectic approach informed by attachment theory, of aggregating and integrate several attachment indicators, including characteristics of attachment figures and different levels of attachment assessment (behaviour and representation). Finally, discuss the use of attachment characteristics for giving a professional opinion on the impact of child rearing experiences, a child’s resilience in face of current adversities, and for predicting potential developmental trajectories. Implications for education and training of experts are mentioned.

Kriminalitätstendenzen in Krisenzeiten am Beispiel der COVID-19-Pandemie

The rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus challenges the entire world tremendously. Yet, little research has been done in Germany on the behavior of the population in such times of crisis. In the present study (N = 320), several effects on experience and behavior within the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated in an online study: frustration of needs, social isolation, feelings of anxiety and stress, adherence to conspiracy mentality, increased alcohol consumption, and Dark Triad characteristics. In addition, self-constructed scales were used to examine one's own change in criminality tendency (SEKT-S) since the beginning of the crisis, as well as the approval of criminality tendencies in other persons (SEKT-A). Both scales were found to be highly reliable. Although a suitable fit could be found in the measurement models, a factorial structure could not be identified. High scores on the factors frustration of needs, adherence to conspiracy mentality, alcohol consumption and the dark triad turned out to be suitable predictors of criminality tendency. The Dark Triad factor represented a moderator in the relationship between need frustration and self-related crime tendency. Due to the heterogeneity of the sample studied, the results can be generalized well. We discuss the limitations of our own study and possible further research on crime in times of crisis.