NCJ Number
60618
Journal
American Journal of Community Psychology Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (1976) Pages: 133-144
Date Published
1976
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTS OF A DEFENDANT'S KNOWN BUT UNSPECIFIED HISTORY OF PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION ON THE JUDGMENTS AND PERCEPTIONS OF SIMULATED JURORS ARE ASSESSED IN THIS INVESTIGATION.
Abstract
THE SUBJECTS WERE 218 MALE AND 232 FEMALE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FROM AN INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY CLASS. THE NATURE OF THE CRIME (NONVIOLENT VERSUS VIOLENT ROBBERY) AND HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTURBANCE (RECENTLY HOSPITALIZED VERSUS NO INDICATION OF PREVIOUS DISTURBANCE) WERE MANIPULATED. SEX OF 'S' CONSTITUTED THE THIRD VARIABLE. THE EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED DURING CLASS SESSIONS; BOOKLETS CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS, CRIME DESCRIPTIONS, EVIDENCE SUMMARY, AND QUESTIONNAIRE WERE RANDOMLY DISTRIBUTED. THE SIMULATED JURORS WERE ASKED TO RENDER JUDGMENTS IN A CASE INVOLVING EITHER A VIOLENT OR NONVIOLENT ARMED ROBBERY IN WHICH THE DEFENDANT EITHER DID OR DID NOT HAVE A STATED HISTORY OF PREVIOUS PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION. RESULTS FOUND THAT THE FORMER MENTAL PATIENT RECEIVED FEWER GUILTY VERDICTS THAN DID THE NONHOSPITALIZED DEFENDANT IN THE NONVIOLENT ROBBERY CONDITION, WHILE NO DIFFERENCE EXISTED IN THE VIOLENT ROBBERY CONDITION. MALE SUBJECTS WERE MORE PUNITIVE WHEN THE FORMER MENTAL PATIENT WAS JUDGED GUILTY OF THE NONVIOLENT ROBBERY. THE DATA SUGGEST THAT WHILE MALES RESPOND IN TERMS OF CONVENTIONAL STEREOTYPES ABOUT THE MENTALLY ILL, FEMALES DO NOT. RESULTS ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF ATTRIBUTION OF RESPONSIBILITY AND FEAR REACTIONS TOWARD THE MENTALLY ILL. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (LWM)