Understanding the role of defendant apology as a potential response to victim impact statements
Item
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Title
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Understanding the role of defendant apology as a potential response to victim impact statements
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Identifier
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d_2009_2013:919ac68497ec:10242
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identifier
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10409
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Creator
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Tallon, Jennifer A.,
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Contributor
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Jennifer L. Groscup
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Date
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2009
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Social psychology | Cognitive psychology | Experimental psychology | Anger | Death Penalty | Jury | Remorse | Sadness | Victim Impact Statements
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Abstract
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Although it has been established by several empirical studies that the presentation of a victim impact statement (VIS) in capital trials influences jurors in such a manner as they favor sentencing the defendant to death, it is unclear what affective and cognitive processes may play a role in the decision making process. One potential explanation can be derived from the literature concerning negative affect and cognition. Studies have found that anger may lead to peripheral processing whereas sadness leads to a more systematic processing. When faced with emotionally laden evidence such as a VIS one potential response for the defense is to shift the emotional focus of the trial from that of the victim to the defendant. This may be accomplished by allowing the defendant to deliver a statement to the court in which they provide their account of the crime with an accompanying expression of remorse. However, it remains to be seen under what circumstances a defendant's statement may offset (or aggravate) VIS-induced antipathy for the defendant. The purpose of this study was to examine: (1) how variations in the type of affect displayed by the individual presenting a VIS will influence juror decision making (2) how variations in a defendant's statement influence juror decision making, and (3) how variations in the affect displayed by the defendant during the delivery of the statement influence juror decision making.;The results revealed that participants were influenced by their mood and the affective cues conveyed via a VIS. Specifically, those who reported experiencing hostility were more punitive, displayed an anti-defendant bias, and were insensitive to variations in trial evidence. Sadness decreased punitiveness and increased pro-defendant attitudes, but sad participants appeared to overanalyze evidence leading them to render sentences inconsistent with the fact pattern. Additionally, the results of this study revealed the risks a defendant faces when choosing to deliver a statement to the court. Appearing remorseful increased the efficacy of an excuse or full apology (Sympathy x Responsibility), but proved detrimental to the defendant when he only accepted responsibility or expressed sympathy.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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2009_2013.csv
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Psychology
