Social psychological influences on crime and intervention Flashcards
What are two important themes in social psychology?
- We vastly underestimate the power of situational influence
- A great deal of mental activity occurs outside of our conscious awareness
How does the fundamental attribution error relate to criminal psychology?
Actor observer bias – when something happens to us it is due to situational influence but when something happens to someone else it is due to intrinsic reasons
How does the self fulfilling prophecy relate to criminal psychology?
When we act a certain way towards someone else we tend to illicit reactions from them that are in line with our expectations. This can affect how people in the criminal justice system view themselves
What is a Miranda warning? What often happens with this?
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can be used against you. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed to represent you.” Sometimes people do not have an attorney present, will speak, their words WILL be used against them, get arrested, and then told you have the right to remain silent because they are being arrested. This would not happen if an attorney was present to begin with or if someone has intellectual challenges.
What are requirements of the Miranda Warning?
- No warning necessary if you are not in custody (free to leave)
- No requirement that police warn you that voluntary statements may be used against you
Who moved the false confession movement forward and was connected to what case?
Saul Kassin research, Central Park Five case
What three factors are included in a false confession?
- An authority figure insisting on guilt
- Lying to suspects about false evidence connecting them to a crime
- Suspect is under intense pressure
What are ways to tell someone is lying during a false confession?
- Nonverbal cues
- Gaze aversion
- Frozen posture
- Slouching
- Anxious
- Unconcerned
- Guarded
What is the “Reid Technique”?
- Isolate in small, bare, sound proof room
- Develop a theme of guilt
- Interrupt expression of innocence
- Pressure, then show sympathy
- Offer a face-saving explanation for crime
- Increase anxiety associated with denial
- Reduce the perception of negative consequences for confessing
- “Innocents” at risk - trust the system
Why did the police believe the five boys who were involved in the central park case?
They all provided false confessions –> gave inconsistent pieces of information –> were in the interrogation room for 16 hours and believed that they just need to confess –> they only showed the video of them confessing –> did not highlight the rest of the context of the video –> hard to let go of confirmation bias
How do you judge the accuracy of a confession?
- Avoiding confirmation bias (look at inconsistencies in case)
- Factors that increase the likelihood of coercion
- Age and competency
- Conditions of custody and interrogation
What is the educator Reid Technique?
- Investigative component
- Behavioral analysis (interview to determine if lying through body language etc)
- 9 step interrogation that is designed to “obtain an admission of guilt”
What percentage of people and populations do false confessions?
Juveniles
What social psychological phenomenons happen in prison?
Labeling
Dehumanizing
Deindividuation - uniforms
