Publication Date

8-2022

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Christopher Peters (chair), Sally Kuhlenschmidt, Sungjin Im

Degree Program

Department of Psychology

Degree Type

Master of Arts

Abstract

This study sought to determine the relationship between True Crime Media (TCM) or pretrial publicity (PTP) consumption and jurors' criminal justice orientations. This study also looked at dispositional empathy, right-wing authoritarianism, the need for affect, and the need for cognition as potential moderators. It was hypothesized that the more TCM and PTP consumed, the more participants will lean toward crime control ideologies. It was also hypothesized that the more TCM and PTP consumed, the higher participants would score on right-wing authoritarian viewpoints, on dispositional empathy, and on need for cognition. Participants were presented with a screening question of, "Do you watch, listen to, or read about true crime (i.e., real world criminal activity, court cases, etc.)," to determine their eligibility for participation. They were then presented with a self-report questionnaire of their consumption habits and preferences followed by self-report questionnaires for each of the potential moderators presented in a random order. Results indicated that there was a statistically significant relationship between TCM/PTP consumption and crime control ideologies and dispositional empathy. However, there was not a statistically significant relationship between TCM/PTP consumption and right-wing authoritarianism, the need for affect, the need for cognition, or procedural due process orientation.

Disciplines

Clinical Psychology | Criminal Procedure | Criminology and Criminal Justice | Law | Law and Psychology | Legal Studies | Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

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