Mock Juror Perceptions of a Male or Female Adult Rape Victim Crying in the Courtroom

This study investigated the impact of victim crying and gender on perceptions of rape cases. Participants (N = 240, 51.5% male, 48.1% female) completed a 2 (victim crying) × 2 (victim gender) × 2 (participant gender) between-participants design with case judgments (e.g., verdict) as the DVs. Results...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Pals, Andrea M. (Author) ; Levi, Mary M. (Author) ; Meier, Johnathan R. (Author) ; Jenkins, Baylee D. (Author) ; Le Grand, Alexis M. (Author) ; Golding, Jonathan M. 1959- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2024
In: Violence against women
Year: 2024, Volume: 30, Issue: 5, Pages: 1107-1132
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Keywords:
Demeanor
victim gender
Jury decision-making
Rape
Description
Summary:This study investigated the impact of victim crying and gender on perceptions of rape cases. Participants (N = 240, 51.5% male, 48.1% female) completed a 2 (victim crying) × 2 (victim gender) × 2 (participant gender) between-participants design with case judgments (e.g., verdict) as the DVs. Results found that a rape victim crying during testimony increased pro-victim judgments compared to when the victim did not cry, that female mock jurors were more pro-victim than males, but that victim gender was insignificant. Finally, the mediation model found that victim crying increased their credibility, increasing the likelihood of a guilty verdict.
ISSN:1552-8448
DOI:10.1177/10778012231166404