SIMULATED JURORS READ A BRIEF TRANSCRIPT OF A JURY TRIAL INVOLVING A VICTIM WHO HAD BEEN BEATEN TO DEATH BY EITHER ONE OR FIVE KILLERS. FOR HALF OF THE SUBJECTS IN EACH CONDITION, FURTHER INFORMATION WAS GIVEN THAT THE VICTIM'S BODY WAS MUTILIATED AFTER DEATH. SUBJECTS ASSIGNED PRISON SENTENCES AND RATED THE CRIME AND DEFENDANTS ON SEVERAL SCALES. RESULTS SHOWED THAT MURDER FOLLOWED BY MUTILIZATION INCREASED THE SEVERITY OF PRISON SENTENCES BY ABOUT 50 YEARS. ATTRIBUTIONS OF INSANITY, EVIL NATURE OF THE CRIME, AND ATTITUDE TOWARD THE DEATH PENALTY ALSO VARIED IN AN ORDERLY MANNER AS A RESULT OF THE MUTILATION MANIPULATION. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT SIMULATED JURY TRIALS PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT METHOD FOR STUDYING PERSONAL CAUSATION AND ATTRIBUTION PROCESSES IN GENERAL. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)