Understanding the Role of Linguistic Complexity in Famous Trial Outcomes

Dados Bibliográficos

ID18994136
AutoresAlivia Zubrod (0000-0001-9343-9300, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA, autor correspondente), Lucian Gideon Conway (0000-0002-6919-4320, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA), Kathrene R Conway (University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA), Kathrene Conway (University of Montana), David Ailanjian (University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA)
Ano2021
Volume40
Fascículo3
Páginas354-377
Data de publicação2021-06-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Language and Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0261-927X • E-ISSN: 1552-6526
EditoraSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0261927x20958439
OpenAlexW3085116538
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas75

Famous trials not only generate immense popularity and intrigue, they also have the power to change history. Surprisingly, little research examines the use of complex language during these culturally-significant trial outcomes. In the present study, we helped fill in this gap by evaluating the relationship between attorneys’ use of integratively complex language and trial outcomes. Using the well-validated Automated Integrative Complexity scoring system, we analyzed the complexity of language in the opening and closing statements of famous trials. We found that higher levels of integrative complexity led to a significant increase in winning outcomes, but only for the prosecution. Further, this effect was driven by elaborative forms of complexity and not dialectical forms of complexity. Taken together, these results fill a large gap in our understanding of how language might influence the outcomes of culturally-significant legal proceedings

Dialectic · Epistemology · Linguistic sequence complexity · Linguistics · Political science · Popularity · Computational and Text Analysis Methods · Law · Psychology · Social Psychology