NCJ Number
31426
Journal
BULLETIN OF THE PSYCHONOMIC SOCIETY Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (1975) Pages: 313-316
Date Published
1975
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTS OF THE NUMBER OF KILLERS AND VICTIM MUTILATION IN A FICTITIOUS CRIME WAS POSITIVELY RELATED TO ANTIPATHY TOWARDS THE DEFENDANT(S) BY A SIMULATED JURY.
Abstract
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)