Forensic Psychological Evaluation in cases of Gender-Based Violence. Common errors and proposals for improvement

Abstract

This work consists in a “field review” and a common mistakes compilation detected in psychological-forensic assessments in events of gender-based violence. In our  rofessional experience being forensic psychologist and our daily job, we have found opinions and reports that, in many cases, suffer from methodological rigor, restricting the knowledge ofintimate  partner violence, their manifestations, evolution, victimization and  consequences, leading to inaccurate and iatrogenic interpretations and conclusions. The evaluative mistakes detected will determine recommendations and expert discussions that could not be real about these complicated affairs, that could cause not only secondary victimization effects in women and children but also the psychological expert reports will not fulfil their basic function of expert advice and legal aid. This  explanation about interpretation and evaluative mistakes leads to  different proposals of improvement, specialized training, the use of appropriate assessment protocols and to do expert, structured and  adapted reports to judicial context.