The O. J. Simpson Verdict

Predictors of Beliefs about Innocence or Guilt

Bibliographic Data

ID10220593
AuthorsCarolyn B Murray (University of California, Riverside, corresponding author), Robert T Kaiser (University of California, Riverside), Robert Kaiser (0009-0002-4035-6805, University of California, Riverside), Shelby Taylor (0000-0001-5914-7937, University of California, Riverside), Shelby J Taylor (University of California, Riverside)
Year1997
Volume53
Issue3
Pages455-475
Publication date1997-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social Issues (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-4537 • E-ISSN: 1540-4560
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1540-4560.1997.tb02122.x
OpenAlexW1965994913
LanguageEN
References cited26

This study examined ethnicity and psychological predictors of beliefs in guilt and innocence in the O. J. Simpson trial. A mixed‐gender, multiethnic sample of 441 college students completed measures examining trial beliefs, trial‐related attitudes, ethnic identification, pro‐ and anti‐Black attitudes, and authoritarian personality traits. Results revealed that: (1) mean differences existed among ethnic groups on all variables examined; (2) proximal attitudes mediated relations between psychological characteristics and trial outcome beliefs; and (3) specific relations depended (to some extent) on ethnic group membership. Differences within and between ethnic groups may reflect schematic differences due to differential experiences with societal institutions, identification with (or rejection of) mainstream values, and race relations in American society

Authoritarianism · Developmental psychology · Ethnic group · Innocence · Mainstream · Political science · Politics · Race (biology · Sociology · Verdict · Deception detection and forensic psychology · Gender Studies · Law · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology

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