The Influence of Psychopathic Traits, Gender, and Biological Evidence on Juror Decision-Making

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

This symposium focuses on the factors that influence how we punish others. Each study utilizes vignettes describing crimes, and asks participants to make judgments about appropriate sentences and other relevant factors such as perceptions of the defendant and witness credibility. The first presentation focuses on how traits of the individual who is recommending the punishment (e.g., psychopathic traits and trait vengeance) influence sentencing, and the different factors that motivate their recommendations. The latter three presentations assess how evidence related to the traits and risk factors of the defendant affect sentencing recommendations. Specifically, the second presentation examines how lay perceptions of psychopathy and evidence of the defendant’s level of psychopathy affect sentencing decisions. The third presentation assesses how the gender of the defendant may moderate this relationship. Finally, the last presentation examines societal perceptions of biological risk factors for criminality, including how it affects perceptions of an offender’s responsibility and dangerousness, and the implications for capital sentencing and appeals. These papers provide valuable information regarding the factors that influence potential juror’s sentencing recommendations which is of increasing importance as more research is conducted on the disorder of psychopathy and the biological and environmental factors that influence it.

Sub Unit

• Area X: Perceptions and Responses to Crime and Justice / 64: Perceptions of Justice

Individual Presentations

• The Influence of Psychopathy and Vengeance on Punishments of Crime - Leah Efferson, University of Alabama; Andrea Glenn, University of Alabama

• Lay Perceptions of Psychopathy and their Effect on Legal Decision-Making - Megan Kopkin, University of Alabama; Jennifer Cox, University of Alabama

• Mock Juror Perceptions of Male and Female Psychopathic Traits - C. Adam Coffey, University of Alabama; Jennifer Cox, University of Alabama; Megan Kopkin, University of Alabama

• Societal Attitudes Towards Biological Risk Factors for Criminal Behavior and Implications for Death Penalty Mitigation - Colleen Berryessa, University of Pennsylvania

Chair

• Andrea Glenn, University of Alabama

Discussant

• William Laufer, University of Pennsylvania