This research examined the influence of perspective taking with a defendant and emotionality of victim impact statements on courtroom decisions. We hypothesize that perspective taking with the defendant will limit the effects of emotionality within victim impact statements. In Study 1 a statement prompted participants to perspective take with a defendant in a murder trial. Participants also viewed either flat or high emotionality victim impact statements. Study 2 replicated study one, but instead primed participants to perspective take with the defendant using a sentence unscrambling task. The results of Study 1 were inconclusive. Study 2 found that perspective taking with the defendant diminished the influence of the emotionality of the victim impact statements on sentencing and empathy.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Alexander, Troy Michael
• Paris, Melissa Hughes

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042413-205314

Advisor

• Skorinko, Jeanine LM

Year

• 2013

Date created

• 2013-04-24

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Psychological Science

Rights statement

• In Copyright

License

• All rights reserved

Last modified

• 2021-02-03