1. CLASS 24

2. JURY PSYCHOLOGY

3. Example of Applied Psychology Applying principles of personality and social psychology to an important real-world issue Issues: Obedience & conformity Also group dynamics

4. Obedience as a trait The Authoritarian personality Not authoritative; not bossy Exaggerated respect for authority Related to conservatism

5. F-scale Measures authoritarianism 1000 validation studies Adorno – California 1950 Altemeyer – Manitoba 1980

6. Scientific Jury Selection

7. Began with 1960s Political trials anti-war activists Psychologists supported the defense Help compensate for government strategies

8. Voir Dire Evaluating potential jurors Court calls up a sample of potential jury members from the jury pool Each one is interviewed by defense and the prosecution lawyers Both sides must agree to keep the applicant Continues until 12 applicants are accepted

9. How to select applicants favorable to defense Richard Christie suggested several approaches Evolved to keep ahead of prosecution 1.Personality approach 2.Group dynamics approach

10. 1. Personality strategy Advice from Richard Christie Pick low-Fs But prosecution caught on

11. 2. Group Dynamics Approach More complex view of group behavior Not just the sum of its parts

12. Theme 1: Leadership Foreperson is the leader elected by jury usually chosen on status in the community

13. Strategy Find a low-F / high-status person among the candidates After that, high-Fs are okay Maybe even preferred

14. Theme 2: Law of Similarity & Attraction Well-established psychological phenomenon Similarity -- > attraction

15. Every lawyer knows this " Juries never convict a man that they like. " ……………….Clarence Darrow Also applies to the way that jury members get along with each other

16. Subgroup formation: Over time, jury members form social subgroups (cliques) Especially when sequestered

17. Defense strategies 1. Pick jury members similar to defendant 2. Pick high-F candidates who are different from each other 3. Pick low-F candidates who are similar to others on the jury

18. Christie's Standard procedure Travel to venue of trial Survey the jury pool Questionnaire study –Demographics –Personality items –Punishment items

19. Analysis: find the best questions demographics personality punitiveness

20. Tree Program Yields optimal sequence of questions Lawyer uses the tree diagram during jury selection

21. Trial of Arnie Moskowitz activist in Brooklyn, New York Arrested for armed robbery Richard Christie volunteered to help the defense Followed the usual procedure

22. Results Best personality item: –Obedience and respect for authority are the most important virtues to teach your children Best personality scale: –F-scale BUT judge ruled out personality questions

23. Best demographics 1. Education (some college or not) 2. Newspaper (New York Times vs. tabloid) 3. Religiousness (attend church vs. never) 4. Etc Basically -- conservatism vs. liberalism

24. The verdict ACQUIT Altogether, Christie successful on 19/21 cases

25. The "Squamish Five“ Trial Local extreme activists (during 1970s) Don't like it -- Blow it up Both sides brought in teams Took 2 months to select the jury

26. Later Developments in Jury Selection Fewer political trials (maybe Occupy protestors) Judges are now wary Instead, applied to non-political trials e.g., O.J. Simpson & big-business trials

27. e.g., book and movie Runaway Jury Ciagarette companies

28. Is Scientific Jury Selection a good thing? –PROS Improves ability to avoid biased jurors Consistent with adversary system –CONS gives more advantage to the wealthy selection process can go on forever