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Do criminal stereotypes mediate juridic judgements?
Author(s) -
Macrae C. Neil,
Shepherd John W.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
british journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 2044-8309
pISSN - 0144-6665
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8309.1989.tb00860.x
Subject(s) - psychology , innocence , stereotype (uml) , social psychology , physical attractiveness , attractiveness , social perception , perception , psychoanalysis , neuroscience
Previous findings suggest that facial stereotypes of criminals mediate juridic judgements. However, the present study notes that these are open to an alternative explanation in terms of the physical attractiveness of the defendant. To clarify the issue, in this study the degree to which the defendant matched the criminal stereotype for a particular incident was manipulated while physical attractiveness was held constant. Findings support the contention that judgements of guilt and innocence are mediated by the extent to which the defendant resembles the criminal stereotype for a particular incident.