P122. The Weight of Bias: Gender, Time Pressure, and Media Influence in Judicial Decision-Making on Sexual Violence

• In Event: Poster Session & Ice Cream Social

Abstract

Decision-making in sexual violence court cases can be influenced by both individual and situational factors. This study examines the impact of gender, time pressure, and media pressure on decision-making processes in a rape trial scenario, with a specific focus on implicit and explicit evaluations. Implicit evaluations reflect individuals' instinctive responses toward an attitude object and are based on associative processes. They serve as the foundation for more reflective processes and subsequent explicit judgments. This research investigated the determinants and consequences of implicit evaluations in a rape case. The study involved a sample of 128 participants. Findings demonstrate that situational factors (i.e., the specifics of the rape case) and personal factors (i.e., acceptance of rape myths) influence both explicit and implicit judgments. Moreover, gender significantly shaped participants’ implicit evaluations and indirectly affected explicit judgments through these implicit processes. Time pressure increased cognitive load, particularly in women, while media pressure influenced men’s judgments more significantly. However, the combined effect of these factors on the final decision was not statistically significant. The discussion focuses on the role of implicit cognition and biases in judicial decision-making, emphasizing their impact on courtroom outcomes and the need for training strategies to mitigate their influence.

Authors

• Emanuela Mari, Sapienza, University of Rome

• Giannini Anna Maria, Department of Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome.

• Alessandra Pizzo, Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome

• Angelo Fraschetti, Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome