week 12 lecture pscy2011

Introduction

  • Overview of the course relations to the criminal justice system and scientific contributions.

  • Focus on reforms influenced by scientific advancements in areas like eyewitness testimony and forensic science.

  • Shift towards the future implications of introducing new techniques in the criminal justice process.

FMRI Evidence in Criminal Justice

Definition and Purpose

  • FMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is debated in its use as evidence in court.

  • Potential to inform jurors and judges about defendants' behaviors, like impulsivity.

Concerns

  • Risk of FMRI evidence being overly prejudicial.

  • Scientific allure potentially sways juror and judge decision-making processes.

Persuasion Effects

  • Brain imaging is perceived as concrete evidence, similar to fingerprints.

  • Psychologically, people trust concrete evidence more than abstract concepts.

Perception of Science

Natural vs. Behavioral Science

  • People tend to trust findings from natural sciences over behavioral sciences.

  • Studies indicate that people rate scientific research as more credible when it uses natural science methods.

Study Example

  • Scenarios comparing natural science (e.g., cell biology using EKG) to behavioral science (social interactions using questionnaires).

  • Results show that the method of study influences perceived credibility and importance.

The Persuasiveness of Brain Images

Influence of Visual Evidence

  • Studies indicate that showing images related to claims enhances belief in those claims.

  • Non-probative images can sway people’s judgments without providing true evidence.

Marketing Influence

  • Media campaigns (e.g., No Lie fMRI) can mislead jurors about the reliability of FMRI evidence.

Empirical Research on FMRI Evidence

McCabe Study

  • Examined how people react to brain images versus bar graphs summarizing the same information.

  • Results revealed that brain images significantly influenced perceptions of scientific reasoning.

Implications for Conviction

  • Judgment outcomes suggested higher guilty verdict proportions when FMRI is introduced alongside prosecution arguments.

Behavioral Genetics

Basic Concepts

  • Advances suggest modest connections between gene variants, childhood experiences, and criminal behavior.

  • Ethical concerns regarding genetic information might reduce perceived responsibility in defendants.

Study Example

  • Scenarios presented examining impulsive homicide explanations, leading to varying sentencing and fear responses.

  • Longer prison sentences correlated more with abuse history than genetic factors.

Probability in Criminal Justice

Importance of Base Rates

  • Effective communication of forensic evidence requires understanding match probabilities and base rates.

  • Rarity adds weight to forensic findings (e.g., DNA evidence reliability increases with uniqueness).

Presentation of Evidence

  • Different methods of presenting evidence (likelihood ratios vs. random match probabilities) significantly impact juror decision-making.

  • Research shows jurors respond better to random match probabilities.

Impact of Technology in Criminal Justice

Future Investigations

  • Potential of machine learning to reduce human biases in decision-making processes.

  • Virtual courtrooms may provide new avenues for legal proceedings, prompting questions around empathy and engagement.

Sensor Technology

  • Acoustic sensors like ShotSpotter allow immediate police response by detecting gunfire locations.

Conclusion

  • Integration of psychology and law shows potential for addressing criminal justice system issues.

  • Emphasizes the importance of psychological research in influencing legal practices.

  • Encourages continuous investigation into the influence of new technologies and information presentations within the criminal justice landscape.