Document Detail


Race and information processing in criminal trials: does the defendant's race affect how the facts are evaluated?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15257784     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Two studies examined whether a criminal defendant's race influences Whites' sensitivity to legally relevant information. In Study 1, prosecution case strength ratings and guilt likelihood ratings were more sensitive to the strength of the defendant's alibi when he was Black than when he was White, if the experimental task was designed to elicit low processing motivation. Under high motivation, participants were equally sensitive to alibi strength, regardless of defendant race. In Study 2, the alibi strength manipulation was replaced with a manipulation of the effectiveness of the district attorney's cross-examination. As predicted, defense case strength ratings were more sensitive to the strength of the prosecutor's cross-examination with a Black defendant than with a White defendant-under low motivation. Under high motivation, sensitivity did not depend on defendant race. These results suggest that a Black defendant can elicit greater sensitivity to legally relevant information than will a White defendant.
Authors:
Michael J Sargent; Amy L Bradfield
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Personality & social psychology bulletin     Volume:  30     ISSN:  0146-1672     ISO Abbreviation:  Pers Soc Psychol Bull     Publication Date:  2004 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2004-07-19     Completed Date:  2004-12-14     Revised Date:  2011-02-10    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7809042     Medline TA:  Pers Soc Psychol Bull     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  995-1008     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Bates College, Lewiston, ME 04240, USA. msargent@bates.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
African Americans*
Attitude*
Crime / legislation & jurisprudence*
European Continental Ancestry Group*
Female
Humans
Judgment
Male
Mental Processes*
Motivation
Social Perception*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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