How Psychology Applies to Steamship Vaccinations, Tugboat Accidents, and Other Famous Moments in Tort Law

Reviews the book, The Psychology of Tort Law by Jennifer K. Robbennolt and Valerie P. Hans (see record 2015-56348-000). In this marvelous new book, law professors and psychologists Robbennolt and Hans, both of whom teach tort law, bring the stories of O’Brien, Cunard, and many other civil plaintiffs and defendants into the realm of psychology by examining their cases specifically, and tort law generally, in light of psychological science. In eight densely packed chapters (in addition to an introduction and conclusion), they use both well-known and obscure cases to “explore tort law through the lens of psychological science, examining the assumptions about human behavior and decision making that underlie the doctrinal rules, [and] reviewing psychological research that tests these assumptions” (p. 6). In short, they provide a psychological perspective on tort law. No other book has covered quite this territory or brought the two disciplines together quite so adroitly. The Psychology of Tort Law is the first in a series commissioned by New York University Press to bring psychological research findings to bear on major law topics. If this book is any indication, the series will be exceptionally valuable. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)