Glossary / Lexicon

Deutsch: Zuständigkeitslücke / Español: Ambigüedad Jurisdiccional / Português: Ambiguidade Jurisdicional / Français: Ambiguïté Juridictionnelle / Italiano: Ambiguità Giurisdizionale /

Jurisdictional ambiguity refers to conflict caused by a disagreement about geographical territory or lines of authority.

In psychology, "jurisdictional ambiguity" refers to a situation in which the boundaries or responsibilities of different professionals or organizations are unclear or overlapping. This can create confusion and uncertainty about who is responsible for providing certain services or making certain decisions, and it can also lead to problems with coordination and communication. Here are a few examples of how jurisdictional ambiguity might manifest in the field of psychology:

1. Ambiguity about who is responsible for providing certain mental health services: For example, there might be confusion about whether a psychologist or a psychiatrist should be responsible for providing certain types of therapy or medication.

2. Ambiguity about who is responsible for making decisions about an individual's treatment: For example, there might be confusion about whether a therapist or a primary care doctor should be responsible for making decisions about an individual's treatment plan.

3. Ambiguity about which professional should be consulted for certain types of issues: For example, there might be confusion about whether a social worker or a counselor should be consulted for issues related to family dynamics or substance abuse.

4. Ambiguity about which organization or agency is responsible for providing certain services: For example, there might be confusion about whether a community mental health center or a private practice should be responsible for providing therapy services to an individual.