The effects of defendant nonverbal behavior in the courtroom on jury perception of guilt
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Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Abstract
Research indicates that many extralegal factors influence jury decision making, although
the effect of defendant nonverbal behavior specifically has been under researched. The
aim of the present study was to examine the impact of defendant nonverbal courtroom
behavior on jury guilt perception and verdict decisions. Participants (N = 96) were
assigned to one of four experimental manipulations: avoidance of eye contact (n = 22),
fidgeting (n = 21), sweating (n = 22), or control (n = 31). In each condition participants
viewed one of four videos, in which a "defendant" displayed one of the four behaviors in
response to a prosecuting attorney’s witness testifying. Although the experimental
conditions did not differ significantly from the control condition on level of guilt or
verdict decisions, mean scores across conditions trended in the expected direction.
Confidence ratings were also analyzed and were found to play a significant role in verdict
decisions, with additional analyses revealing that level of confidence was particularly
discrepant in the sweating condition. The findings of this study can assist attorneys with
witness preparation, as they direct defendants on how to behave throughout the trial
process. However, these results also demonstrate the need to further investigate the role
that nonverbal behavior plays in jury decision making and perception of guilt.
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Hodgson, K. L. (2013). The effects of defendant nonverbal behavior in the courtroom on jury perception of guilt. Retrieved from ProQuest Digital Dissertations. (AAT 3628655)