NCJ Number
148257
Date Published
1992
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study hypothesized that a small but significant number of personality variables may influence the information handling ability of jurors in such a way that bias in considering evidence and arguments might be amplified by positive feedback.
Abstract
Psychological profiles were defined based on a study of verdicts and sentence recommendations of 311 subjects. Profiles were defined in terms of attribution (internal and external) and ideology (conservative and progressive). Nine- member juries were formed, each of which had members of the same psychosocial profile. They were shown videotaped reenactments of court proceedings from a rape and murder case and a case of criminal negligence involving a surgeon. Juries constructed on the basis of ideological profiles reached the same postdeliberation verdict in the criminal negligence case but different verdicts in the rape and mruder case. Juries constructed on the basis of attribution profiles reached the same verdict in the rape and murder case but different verdicts in the criminal negligence case. Juries also differed in terms of deliberation style and content. It was determined that juries may exhibit personality-induced latent bias. 20 references and 1 table