Week 8: applying socpsy to the criminal justice system

What is the main question in the social psychology of crime?

Why people do not intervene and the social psychological model of criminal behaviour.

What is the bystander effect?

People are less likely to help when others are present.

When are people less likely to intervene according to the notes?

When there are few victims or the victim is perceived as dissimilar to potential helpers.

What is diffusion of responsibility?

The tendency for individuals to assume someone else will act when others are present.

Name one way to overcome the bystander effect.

Be skilled to help.

Name another way to overcome the bystander effect.

Feel good or confident about helping.

How does witnessing others help affect intervention?

Seeing others help increases the likelihood you will help.

How does seeing the victim as deserving affect helping?

Viewing the victim as deserving increases likelihood of intervention.

What should a person in need do to get help from a crowd?

Engage with a specific person and ask for help directly.

Who proposed the social psychological model of criminal behaviour mentioned here?

Andrews and Bonta.

According to the model, when does the likelihood of criminal behaviour increase?

When risk factors are present.

What is the model trying to identify?

What causes someone to engage in criminal behaviour.

What is the first risk factor category?

Early onset of antisocial behaviour.

What does early onset antisocial behaviour include?

Violating norms or laws and disregarding impact on others.

In which group is early onset antisocial behaviour often seen?

It tends to appear early in boys but they can grow out of it.

What is the second risk factor category?

Temperamental and personal characteristics such as aggression.

What is the third risk factor category?

Antisocial attitudes, values, and behaviours.

What is the fourth risk factor category?

Association with pro-criminal peers.

What is the fifth risk factor category?

Negative parenting and family experiences.

What is the sixth risk factor category?

Low levels of achievement at school.

What is the seventh risk factor category?

Poor use of leisure time.

What is the eighth risk factor category?

Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol.

Name one element of antisocial behaviour listed in the notes.

High tolerance of deviance.

Give another element of antisocial behaviour.

Rejection of the validity of authority.

What is a third element of antisocial behaviour?

Use of cognitive distortions.

What is the fourth element of antisocial behaviour?

Interpreting many environmental stimuli as reasons for anger.

What is the fifth element of antisocial behaviour?

A generally antisocial style of thinking.

What treatment is recommended for violent youth with antisocial behaviour?

Multisystemic Therapy (MST).

What does MST target?

Violent or seriously antisocial youth.

What social contexts does MST try to influence?

Family, neighbourhood, school, peers, and parenting.

What is a major con of MST?

It relies on people to change and cooperate.

Which criminal justice areas involve social psychology according to the notes?

Police interviews and juror partiality and bias.

How is the Reid technique described?

An accusatory interrogation process, not a two-way conversation.

What is the Reid technique more like for the interrogator?

A monologue rather than a dialogue.

What are the three components of the Reid technique?

Factual analysis, behavioural analysis interview, and interrogation.

What is the first step in the interrogation phase of the Reid technique?

Direct confrontation.

What comes after direct confrontation in the Reid interrogation steps?

Shifting the blame elsewhere.

Which Reid step addresses denying the offence?

Minimize the frequency of denials.

How does the Reid technique use reasons for denial?

It turns reasons for not doing it into reasons to acknowledge guilt.

What is meant by “reinforce sincerity” in the Reid technique?

Convincing the suspect the interrogator believes their truthful confession.

What does the Reid technique do if the suspect becomes quiet?

Offer alternatives or prompts to keep them talking.

What is the “alternative question” step in Reid?

Pose a question offering two explanations, one implicating guilt.

What does the Reid technique try to get the suspect to do regarding guilt?

Repeat an admission of guilt.

What final step documents the process in the Reid technique?

Documenting the admission of guilt.

What is a major critique of the Reid technique?

It can lead to false confessions and is based on problematic lie-detection assumptions.

What solution model is offered as an alternative to the Reid technique?

The PEACE model: conversational and non-confrontational.

What does PEACE stand for in broad steps?

Preparation and planning

How is jury partiality defined?

Having attitudinal and behavioural components that could affect a juror’s verdict.

Name one type of juror prejudice.

Interest prejudice.

Name another type of juror prejudice.

Specific prejudice.

What is a third type of juror prejudice?

Generic prejudice.

What is the fourth type of juror prejudice?

Normative prejudice.

How does jury composition affect conviction rates?

Juries made up mostly of white individuals are more likely to convict, especially when the accused is a person of colour.

How does jury diversity affect deliberation?

Diverse juries deliberate for longer periods.

What are two benefits of longer deliberation by diverse juries?

It benefits the jury’s decision quality and the jurors individually.