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Gender, emotionality, and victim impact statements

Kristine A. Peace (Based at Grant MacEwan University, Edmonton, Canada)
Deanna L. Forrester (Based at the University of Lethbridge, Edmonton, Canada.)

Journal of Criminal Psychology

ISSN: 2009-3829

Article publication date: 21 September 2012

464

Abstract

Purpose

The present study aims to examine the influence of emotional content and gender pertaining to victim impact statements (VIS) on sentencing outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a 2 (emotionality)×2 (participant gender)×2 (victim gender)×2 (statement gender) factorial design. Participants (n=715) read a crime vignette and corresponding VIS, and completed questionnaires pertaining to sentencing recommendations, legal attitudes, and levels of emotional empathy (counterbalanced).

Findings

Results indicated that participant gender was related to the emotional appeal of the VIS, and ratings of punishment severity. Emotional empathy was positively associated with perceptions of credibility and emotionality. Higher legal attitudes scores were positively correlated with higher minimum sentences, ratings of credibility, emotional appeal, as well as more severe punishments.

Originality/value

This study has important implications with respect to perceptions of VIS in relation to how emotional they are, who the victim is, who the statement is written by, and who hears the statement. Given the lack of previous research in this area, the study provides data that warrant further investigation.

Keywords

Citation

Peace, K.A. and Forrester, D.L. (2012), "Gender, emotionality, and victim impact statements", Journal of Criminal Psychology, Vol. 2 No. 2, pp. 107-120. https://doi.org/10.1108/20093821211264423

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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