Adaptive Behavior, Mental Retardation, and the Death Penalty

ABSTRACT

The article focuses on the assessment of adaptive behavior as a variable in the diagnosis of mental retardation in defendants charged with capital murder. A brief history of the development of adaptive behavior assessment as a major component in the determination of mental retardation is provided. Current adaptive behavior measurement instruments used in the assessment of mental retardation in adults are described and analyzed in terms of their response formats, informant options, and psychometric properties. Issues, appropriate practices, and potential problems related to the assessment of adaptive behavior in death penalty cases are discussed. Recommendations for current forensic evaluations as well as future research in the area of adaptive behavior assessment in death penalty cases are described.

KEYWORDS:

• Adaptive behavior
• mental retardation
• death penalty
• assessment