AP Psychology Exam Prep

Answer: A - For the purposes of a criminal court, insanity is strictly a legal conclusion.
Key Takeaway: Insanity in criminal court is a defense that is used when a person’s lawyers claim that he or she is not responsible for their actions. Insanity is not a clinical determination, though. It is simply a legal recourse. A person seeking an insanity defense could have a number of underlying issues such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or any of the other personality and brain disorders. It is the court system’s duty to determine whether this underlying disorder has actually led to the person not knowing right from wrong when they committed the crime.