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Dissertation
Heuristics and biases in law and psychology: examining stereotype bias in racial descriptors and parole revocation decisions
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Jun 2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00000743
Abstract
Despite its adversarial nature, the criminal justice system employs decision-makers who must strive for impartiality to impart confidence in the process. The current study outlines the moral, legal, and ethical origins of impartiality that some actors within the criminal justice system (i.e., judges, juries, and forensic psychologists) must uphold. Despite these impartiality requirements, recent research has demonstrated that they are susceptible to heuristics and biases that may lead to systematic errors when implemented in the wake of limited information. The current study examined stereotype bias in 245 law students randomly assigned to receive racial descriptors in a series of vignettes. Results revealed a complex relationship between participants' racial identity, adversarial alignment, and group assignment on their likelihood to recommend parole revocation. This complexity was further impacted by the global Covid-19 pandemic and national awakenings to racial injustice, the implications of which are discussed.
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Details
- Title
- Heuristics and biases in law and psychology
- Creators
- Victoria Pietruszka
- Contributors
- Kirk Heilbrun (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- iv, 113 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991015080649304721