Abstract:
Using the context of an intimate partner homicide trial, the study explored the effects of defendant gender and age on mock-jurors\' verdicts, sentences, and culpability ratings-and whether defendant credibility and juror anger mediate these effects. The study used a 2 (Defendant Gender: male vs. female) × 3 (Defendant Age: 25, 45, or 65 years) between-subjects design. Participants (N = 513 community members) completed the experiment online. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the six Defendant Gender × Age Conditions. Participants read the trial transcripts that included the age and gender manipulations, provided verdicts and sentences, and completed the following measures: culpability, anger, credibility, and manipulation checks. Consistent with our hypotheses mock-jurors were more likely to find the male defendant guilty and give him longer sentences than the female defendant. Additionally, when the defendant was male (vs. female) mock-jurors provided higher anger ratings and rated the defendant as more culpable in the victim\'s death. Also consistent with our hypotheses, mock-jurors were more likely to find the youngest defendant guilty and view him as more culpable and less credible than the oldest defendant. The mechanisms responsible for jurors\' biased decisions varied as a function of the extra-legal variable (defendant gender vs. age). The defendant age effect was mediated by defendant credibility and the gender effect by juror anger. A defendant\'s right to a fair trial is dependent on a court\'s ability to limit extra-legal variables from influencing jurors\' decisions. Understanding the mechanism responsible for such bias is required before the courts can effectively remedy bias.
摘要:
利用亲密伴侣杀人案的背景,这项研究探讨了被告性别和年龄对模拟陪审员判决的影响,句子,和罪责评级-以及被告可信度和陪审员愤怒是否调解了这些影响。该研究使用了2(被告性别:男性与女性)×3(被告年龄:25、45或65岁)受试者间设计。参与者(N=513个社区成员)在线完成实验。参与者被随机分配到六个被告性别×年龄条件之一。参与者阅读试验记录,其中包括年龄和性别操纵,提供判决和句子,并完成了以下措施:罪责,愤怒,信誉,和操纵检查。与我们的假设一致,模拟陪审员更有可能发现男性被告有罪,并给予他比女性被告更长的刑期。此外,当被告是男性时(与女性)模拟陪审员提供了更高的愤怒评级,并将被告评为受害者死亡的罪魁祸首。也符合我们的假设,模拟陪审员更有可能发现最年轻的被告有罪,并认为他比最年长的被告更有罪和更不可信。负责陪审员偏见决定的机制随着法律外变量的变化而变化(被告性别与年龄)。被告年龄效应由被告可信度介导,性别效应由陪审员愤怒介导。被告获得公正审判的权利取决于法院限制法律外变量影响陪审员决定的能力。在法院有效纠正偏见之前,需要了解造成这种偏见的机制。