Effects of defendant sexual orientation on jurors' perceptions of child sexual assault

Law and Human Behavior
Tisha R Wiley, B L Bottoms

Abstract

We examined mock jurors' reactions to a sexual abuse case involving a male teacher and a 10-year-old child. Because gay men are sometimes stereotyped as child molesters, we portrayed defendant sexual orientation as either gay or straight and the victim as either a boy or girl. Jurors made more pro-prosecution decisions in cases involving a gay versus straight defendant, particularly when the victim was a boy. In boy-victim cases, jurors' emotional feelings of moral outrage toward the defendant mediated these effects. On average, women jurors were more pro-prosecution than were men. Results have implications for understanding social perceptions of cross- and same-gender child sexual abuse and juror decision making in child sexual assault cases perpetrated by homosexual and heterosexual men.

References

May 1, 1978·Archives of Sexual Behavior·A N Groth, H J Birnbaum
Jan 1, 1988·Child Abuse & Neglect·S D Broussard, W G Wagner
Jan 1, 1988·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·R J MacCoun, N L Kerr
Jan 1, 1987·Child Abuse & Neglect·N EisenbergM E Dewey
Feb 1, 1997·Law and Human Behavior·N Vidmar
Jul 24, 1998·Psychological Reports·P Cameron, K Cameron
Oct 3, 1999·The Journal of Applied Psychology·R ForsterLeeA McGovern
Aug 10, 2000·Journal of Homosexuality·J M Hill
Sep 7, 2000·Law and Human Behavior·T M Haegerich, B L Bottoms
May 8, 2003·Law and Human Behavior·Bette L BottomsKimberly Tyda
May 13, 2003·Journal of Homosexuality·Melanie A Morrison, Todd G Morrison
Nov 26, 2003·Child Abuse & Neglect·David Finkelhor
Dec 31, 2005·Law and Human Behavior·Tara L MitchellChristian A Meissner

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 30, 2010·Journal of Child Sexual Abuse·Lisa DeMarni Cromer, Rachel E Goldsmith
Aug 5, 2011·Journal of Child Sexual Abuse·Jessie J GiglioMary L Sohn
Dec 2, 2015·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Alissa AndersonErin Styer
Nov 2, 2018·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Katie MarasChloe Sands
Jan 31, 2020·Behavioral Sciences & the Law·Alana SaulnierBette L Bottoms
Feb 19, 2020·Journal of Homosexuality·Connie S Ringger
Jun 9, 2020·Sexual Abuse : a Journal of Research and Treatment·Caitlyn N MunizJennifer A Leili
Mar 30, 2017·Journal of Child Sexual Abuse·Ashmyra Voogt, Bianca Klettke
May 3, 2017·Psychiatry, Psychology, and Law : an Interdisciplinary Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law·Ashmyra VoogtDonald Thomson
Feb 26, 2019·Trauma, Violence & Abuse·Ashmyra VoogtAngela Crossman

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.