When Does the Mental Capacity of a Defendant (Usually) Matter

question 58

Essay

When does the mental capacity of a defendant (usually) matter?

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Definitions:

Conditioned Stimulus

A stimulus that was once neutral but, after pairing with an unconditioned stimulus, now triggers a conditioned response.

Higher-order Conditioning

A form of conditioning involving the modification of reaction to a neutral stimulus by first associating this stimulus with another conditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Stimulus

A previously neutral stimulus that, after becoming associated with an unconditioned stimulus, is able to elicit a conditioned response.

Unconditioned Stimulus

In behavioral psychology, a stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without any learning process involved.