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Psychology and the courtroom (Cognitive)

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Question 1

Julian is standing trial for two distinct, unrelated crimes:

  • Crime A: A computer-based fraud (swindle) where he used his charm and appearance to convince investors to fund a fake tech start-up.
  • Crime B: A break-in (burglary) at a warehouse, which occurred at night and did not involve any face-to-face interaction with the victims.

Julian is widely regarded as physically attractive.

a.

Using your knowledge of the key research by Sigall and Ostrove (1975), outline how Julian's attractiveness is likely to affect the sentencing decisions of a jury for Crime A and Crime B.

[6]
b.

Explain how research into defendant characteristics, such as Sigall and Ostrove (1975), contributes to our understanding of courtroom psychology and suggest one practical way the legal system can mitigate such biases.

[4]

Psychology and the courtroom (Cognitive) Questions

  1. A Level
  2. /Psychology
  3. /Psychology and the courtroom (Cognitive)