NCJ Number
239897
Journal
Criminal Justice Studies Volume: 25 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2012 Pages: 17-31
Date Published
March 2012
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The current research sought to determine the relationships among the majors of study, political orientation, and attitudes toward the legal system, as well as the effect of course presentation style on attitude change in psychology and law courses.
Abstract
Previous research has examined the influence of courses on attitude change, and some has established that Psychology and Law courses may increase cynicism toward the legal system. Two other bodies of literature have examined the separate influence of major of study and political attitudes on legal attitudes, and found that criminology majors and political conservatives tend to be more punitive. The current research sought to determine the relationships among the majors of study, political orientation, and attitudes toward the legal system, as well as the effect of course presentation style on attitude change in psychology and law courses. A criminology class, psychology and law class, modified psychology and law class, and introduction to psychology class were questioned about attitudes toward the legal system at the beginning and the end of the course. Results demonstrated that major of study and political orientation were related to legal attitudes, and that modifying the presentation of psychology and law courses may reduce the cynicism effect. Abstract published by arrangement with Taylor and Francis.