Reaching a Verdict

Court At start of trial Minimum number Majorities allowed Crown Court 12 9 11-1, 10-2, 10-1, 9-1 High Court County Court 8 7 7-1 Coroner's Court between 7 and 11 — Minority no more than 2

Stages in decision-making What are the key points during a trial where the jury can be heavily influenced: Some of the influences include size of the jury, cognitive processes, pre-trial publicity, ethnicity, gender, individual differences, leadership and the social processes which influence decision making such as majority and minority influence. These can be divided up into three groups of factors:

Stages in Decision making Hastie et al (1983) Jury discussions go through the following stages: Orientation Period Open Confrontation Reconciliation

Stages in Decision making Hastie et al (1983) What outside factors might affect a jury’s decision making? Do you think confrontation is always necessary in order to come to a verdict? Is locking people in a room until they come to a unanimous (common) decision a good idea? What’s a problem with this theory?

Problem At the end of a trial the jury return to the courtroom to give their verdict. How do they reach that verdict? The problem for researchers is that juries are sworn to secrecy about the deliberations, which take place behind closed doors, even after the trial, they are prohibited by law from discussing it. This means that researchers have to rely on mock trials and reconstructions to investigate jury behaviour.

June 2012 Describe the stages of jury decision-making when reaching a verdict. (10)

Section = Reaching a verdict   • Stages and influences on decision making (eg Hastie 1983); • Majority influence (eg Asch 1953); • Minority influence (eg Nemeth and Watchler).

Why do people conform to the majority? Why do people conform to the minority?

Majority Influence In contrast, majority influence might be due to public compliance – NORMATIVE SOCIAL INFLUENCE – this is just passively going along with the majority to fit in or be liked. Majority influence can also be the result of ‘INFORMATIONAL SOCIAL INFLUENCE’ – the desire to be right.

Majority Influence -RESEARCH EVIDENCE: Asch (1951, 1956): example of conformity. Line X is clearly not the same as line A – but… When everyone in a group of confederates agreed that X and A were the same, the true participants agreed with them 37% of the time! . However, there were important individual differences. For example, no one conformed on all the critical trials, about 25% didn’t conform to any of the wrong answers and about 75% conformed at least once. X A B C

Evaluation of Majority Influence Asch Ethics: Deception: Distress:

Evaluation of Majority Influence Asch What does this study tell us about everyday life?

Evaluation of Majority Influence Asch Can the study be generalised?

Evaluation of Majority Influence Asch How is the study linked to situational/individual explanations of behaviour?

June 2011 How might the view of the majority influence a jury when reaching a verdict? (10)

Minority Influence Minority influence occurs when a minority rejects the established norm of the majority of group members and gets the majority to move to the position of the minority. Minority influence is the result of ‘INFORMATIONAL SOCIAL INFLUENCE’ – the desire to be right. What characteristics are displayed when someone has the desire to be right?

Minority Influence According to Moscovici when the minority are consistent they speak with a single voice and give the impression they are convinced they are right. As a result they appear confident and thus are taken seriously by the majority. Thus, minority influence is based on informational social influence, providing the majority with new ideas that cause them to re-examine their views. History has shown just how powerful minorities can be. Can you think of two examples? (Nemeth and Wachtler, 1974) – Key Research Study

Evaluation of Minority Influence Nemeth & Wachtler: Investigation of the influence of perceived autonomy on minority influence Sample & Generalisability: Usefulness:

Evaluation of Minority Influence Nemeth & Wachtler: Investigation of the influence of perceived autonomy on minority influence Ethics:

Minority Influence: Check your understanding: Do the results of these studies indicate that a minority can influence a majority? How strong is a minority influence compared to a majority influence? How must the minority behave if their influence is to be successful?

Potential Exam Question How might the view of the minority influence a jury when reaching a verdict? (10)

  June 2011 Evaluate the application of research into what influences reaching a verdict in court. (15) June 2012 Discuss ethical issues when researching influences on reaching a verdict in court. (15)