Attorney Persuasion in the Capital Penalty Phase
A Content Analysis of Closing Arguments
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10228931 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Mark Costanzo (Claremont McKenna College, corresponding author), Julie Longua Peterson (0000-0002-7886-869X, Claremont Graduate University), Julie Peterson (0009-0000-9902-8799) |
| Year | 1994 |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 125-147 |
| Publication date | 1994-07-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Social Issues (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0022-4537 • E-ISSN: 1540-4560 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1540-4560.1994.tb02413.x |
| OpenAlex | W2046556100 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 13 |
Transcribed sentencing phase summations were content analyzed and comparisons were made between prosecution and defense arguments. Arguments were coded to discover the themes emphasized by attorneys in arguing for life imprisonment or the death penalty. Prosecutors portrayed the defendant as a cold, remorseless killer, emphasized the brutal nature of the murder, the suffering experienced by victims, and the moral legitimacy of revenge. Defenders explained the murders in the context of the defendant's personal history, emphasized the severity of life without the possibility of parole, and argued that the death penalty is unjust and morally wrong. Defenders provided richer accounts of the life history of the defendant and prosecutors provided more vivid accounts of the murder. Attorney arguments are discussed in light of research on communication, social cognition, and persuasion
Capital (architecture · Closing (real estate · Content (measure theory · Content analysis · Context (archaeology · Criminology · Imprisonment · Legitimacy · Life imprisonment · Persuasion · Political science · Prison · Sociology · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis · Deception detection and forensic psychology · History · Jury Decision Making Processes · Law · Psychology · Social Psychology
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| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0.15 |
| Citation span | 2000 - 2023 (24) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 4 |