CLASS 25 JURY PSYCHOLOGY Example of Applied Psychology

CLASS 25

JURY PSYCHOLOGY

Example of Applied Psychology • Applying principles of personality and social psychology to an important real-world issue • Issues: Obedience & conformity Also group dynamics

Obedience as a trait • The Authoritarian personality – Doesn’t mean authoritative or bossy – Means an exaggerated respect for authority – Related to conservatism

F-scale • Measures authoritarianism • e. g. , Obedience is the most important thing to teach your children • Adorno – California 1950 • Altemeyer – Manitoba 1980

Scientific Jury Selection

Began with 1960 s Political trials • Anti-war activists • Psychologists supported the defense • Help compensate for government strategies

Voir Dire • Stage of evaluating potential jurors • Court calls up a random sample of potential jury members from the jury pool • Each one is interviewed by defense and the prosecution lawyers • Both sides must say okay • Continues until 12 applicants are accepted

How to select applicants favorable to defense • Richard Christie suggested several approaches • Evolved to keep ahead of prosecution 1. Personality approach 2. Group dynamics approach

1. Personality approach • Advice from Richard Christie • Just pick low-Fs • But prosecution caught on

2. Group Dynamics Approach • More complex view of group behavior • A group is not just the sum of its parts

Theme 1: Leadership • the leader of jury is called the foreman (foreperson) • elected by jury itself • usually chosen on status in the community

Strategy • Find a low-F / high-status person among the candidates • After that, high-Fs are okay • Maybe even preferred

Theme 2: Law of Similarity & Attraction • Well-established psychological phenomenon • Similarity -- > attraction

• Two applications in jury research • FIRST "Juries never convict a man that they like. " ………………. Clarence Darrow • And jury members tend to like any defendant who is similar to them

• SECOND • Sub-groups of similar individuals tend to form • They cluster into cliques • Especially when sequestered

Defense strategies 1. Pick jury members similar to defendant 2. Pick high-F candidates who are different from each other 3. Pick low-F candidates who are similar to others on the jury

Christie's Standard procedure • Travel to venue of trial • Obtain the jury pool list • Do a questionnaire study with 3 parts: – Demographics – Personality items – Punishment items

Correlation Analysis: find the best questions demographics punitive personality

During the trial…. • Christie provided results to the defense lawyers • Lawyers asked those questions during jury selection • Then turned to Christie

e. g. , Trial of Arnie Moskowitz • activist in Brooklyn, New York • Arrested for armed robbery • Richard Christie volunteered to help the defense • Followed the usual procedure

Results • Best predictor of punitiveness: – Obedience is the most important virtue to teach your children • Also other items from the F-scale • BUT judge ruled out personality questions

Best demographics 1. Education (at least some college) 2. Newspaper (New York Times vs. tabloid) 3. Non-religious (never attend church) 4. Etc Basically -- conservatism vs. liberalism

The verdict • ACQUIT • Altogether, Christie successful on 9/10 cases

The "Squamish Five“ Trial • Local extreme activists (during 1970 s) • Don't like it -- Blow it up • Both sides brought in teams • Took 2 months to select the jury • CONVICTED

Later Developments in Jury Selection • Judges are now wary • Fewer political trials • Except big-business trials

e. g. , book and movie Runaway Jury • Cigarette & firearms companies

O. J. Simpson trial • Non-political • But jury selection mattered Trial 1: INNOCENT Trial 2: GUILTY

Is Scientific Jury Selection a good thing? – PROS • Helps to remove biased jurors • Consistent with adversary system – CONS • gives more advantage to the wealthy • selection process can go on forever