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The Journal of Psychology
Interdisciplinary and Applied
Volume 93, 1976 - Issue 1
117
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Original Articles

Sex and Race as Factors Affecting the Attribution of Insanity in a Murder Trial

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Pages 93-99 | Received 19 Feb 1976, Published online: 02 Jul 2010
 

Summary

Two hundred and eight white male and female college students read a summary of a case of a violent murder in which an insanity plea was entered. The sex and race (black or white) of the hypothetical defendant was varied in a 2 × 2 factorial design with 52 Ss per cell. Measurements included verdict (guilty or insane), length of recommended sentence, and ratings of certain defendant characteristics. Major results were as follows: (a) harsher treatment of males as indicated by longer sentences, (b) longer sentences for white as opposed to black males among defendants found guilty, and (c) a trend toward a higher proportion of guilty verdicts for black males.

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