Date of Award

9-12-2024

Publication Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Psychology

Keywords

Attractiveness;Diagnostic labelling effects;Extralegal factors;Implicit bias;Mock juror;Youth

Supervisor

Calvin Langton

Abstract

Extralegal factors are those that do not pertain to the facts of a case in a court of law. In Canada, the youth criminal justice system incarcerates racialized youth, males, and those with psychiatric diagnoses at disproportionate rates. The mock juror paradigm is one way to investigate implicit biases arising from extralegal factors that might affect decisions such as guilt or innocence. Although jury trials are not used in the youth criminal justice system, a range of professions exercise judgment about whether youth enter the system and how far they progress in it; therefore, it is worthwhile to investigate extralegal factors that may give rise to implicit biases. This project included three studies, each investigating the effects of attractiveness and gender. Additionally, in Study One, a possible biasing effect for crime type (assault or fraud) was investigated; in Study Two the possibly biasing effect of psychiatric diagnosis (conduct disorder, psychopathic traits, schizophrenia, or no diagnosis) was also investigated; and in Study Three the biasing influence of race (Black or White) was investigated. Participants were female undergraduate students at the University of Windsor. Across the three studies, attractiveness and gender did not affect decision-making in isolation. Attractiveness and crime type were associated with higher guilt ratings for attractive defendants accused of assault. Attractiveness was associated with higher guilt ratings for attractive defendants with psychopathic traits and lower guilt ratings for attractive defendants with schizophrenia. Race did not interact with attractiveness or gender to produce biased guiltiness ratings. These results contribute to the body of mock juror research, particularly as it pertains to youth involved in the criminal justice system. With further methodological refinement, replication and extension of these findings are needed with representative samples of the jury eligible as well as those whose employment brings them into contact with youth at risk of involvement in the justice system.

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