Changes in Certitude, Adherence, and Attitude: Immediate Effects of Rape Myth Intervention on Jurors in a Mock Trial

Yazhi Pang, Kari Davies () and Yong Liu
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Yazhi Pang: Department of Psychology and Human Development, Institution of Education, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Kari Davies: Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Poole BH12 5BB, UK
Yong Liu: Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-16

Abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated the prevalence and negative consequences of rape myths in various social contexts, including their impact on jury decision-making. The current study adopted a mixed methods design to explore how educating jurors about rape myths via a judge’s direction affected their decision-making regarding the guilt or innocence of a defendant in a rape case. Data were obtained from two mock trials and 12 questionnaire responses. The sample consisted of 12 women participants aged from 20 to 25. The thematic analysis indicated that participants who received rape myths education exhibited resistance to rape myths, increased scrutiny of the defendant as opposed to the complainant, and less disbelief of the complainant’s alleged behaviours. Quantitative analysis suggested a strong positive correlation between the understanding of rape myths education and its influence on decision making; however, this was only found in the intervention group. Findings showed insights into the possible advantages of rape myths education for jurors that were delivered via the judge’s direction. Future research directions and implications were discussed.

Keywords: rape myths; rape myth intervention; rape perceptions; judge’s direction; sexual violence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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