Social Cognition of Jury Decision-Making

doi:10.1017/9781009119375.020

20 - Social Cognition of Jury Decision-Making

from Part III - Trial Phase Decision-Making

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 February 2024

Riquel Hafdahl and

Edited by

Matthew T. Huss and

Monica K. Miller: Affiliation:
University of Nevada, Reno
Logan A. Yelderman: Affiliation:
Prairie View A & M University, Texas
Matthew T. Huss: Affiliation:
Creighton University, Omaha
Jason A. Cantone: Affiliation:
George Mason University, Virginia

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Summary

This chapter discusses the growing body of research that examines the social cognitive processes of jurors used when making verdict or sentencing decisions. This includes the empirical findings related to priming ideas and attitudes and impression formation. The chapter then discusses heuristics, or cognitive “shortcuts,” that jurors employ during their decision-making processes in trials and deliberations. For instance, there is a tendency for jurors to over-rely on dispositional attributions, stereotypes, and schemas. Cognitive biases that jurors are prone to, such as the hindsight bias, the outcome bias, and counterfactual thinking, will also be discussed in the context of evaluating evidence and making verdict decisions, along with the potential of debiasing techniques. Finally, jurors’ biases and prejudices regarding factors, such as race, gender, and religion, and how they relate to decision-making are examined. The chapter also addresses areas of social cognition that have not yet been explored in current research and provides recommendations for future directions.

Keywords

jury decision-making social cognition bias stereotypes schemas impression formation prejudice

Type: Chapter
Information: The Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Legal Decision-Making , pp. 309 - 323

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009119375.020 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2024

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20 - Social Cognition of Jury Decision-Making

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