Tag Archives: Persuasion

Nemeth and Wachtler (1974) – Minority Influence

Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology, Reaching a Verdict, Reaching a Verdict, , , , ,

Nemeth, C. and Wachtler, J. (1974) ‘Creating the perceptions of consistency and confidence: a necessary condition for minority influence.’ Sociometry, 37, 529-540

Background

This is the third study we will be looking at from the ‘reaching a verdict’ section of ‘reaching a verdict’, as part of your OCR A2 Forensic Psychology course. It is further categorised into ‘Minority Influence‘

To further your learning, it is highly recommended that you read: Under the Influence: The Destructive Effects of Group Dynamics which will give you a broader understanding of group dynamics.

Recall the last study we looked at? Asch (1955) considered the impact of the majority on the minority in a group. Nemeth and Wachtler consider the opposite: the influence of the minority on the majority.

Continue reading Nemeth and Wachtler (1974) – Minority Influence →

Asch (1955) – Opinions and Social Pressure – Conformity Experiment

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Asch, S. E. (1955) ‘Opinions and Social Pressure’, Scientific American 193 (5), 31-5.

Background

This is the second study we will be looking at from the ‘reaching a verdict’ section of ‘reaching a verdict’, as part of your OCR A2 Forensic Psychology course. It is further categorised into ‘Majority Influence‘

In this classic social psychology experiment Solomon Asch looked at conformity: particularly the influence of the majority on the minority.

This is one of the most influential and well-known studies in Psychology. It looks at conformity, which of course means that this study was conducted from a Social Psychological perspective. However, as this is from the Forensic Section of your OCR A2 Psychology exam, then we need to consider it from a forensic perspective. In this case how to do juries come to either a unanimous or majority decision.

Continue reading Asch (1955) – Opinions and Social Pressure – Conformity Experiment →

Cutler and Penrod (1989) ‘The Eye Witness, The Expert Psychologist and the Jury.’

Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology, Persuading a Jury, Reaching a Verdict, , , , ,

Cutler and Penrod (1989) ‘The Eye Witness, The Expert Psychologist and the Jury.’ Law and Human Behaviour

Background

This is the second study we will be looking at from Reaching Verdict and  Persuading a Jury, as part of your OCR A2 Forensic Psychology course. It is further categorised into ‘persuasion’ and ‘expert witnesses.’

Reaching a verdict and Persuading a Jury consider the legal system. This study specifically covers the effects of expert witnesses on jury verdicts.

In the United Kingdom the final verdict in criminal trials is made by a jury of 12 citizens randomly selected from the voting register,  which upon turning 18 all UK citizens are added to. Prisoners and people diagnosed with mental illnesses are not allowed to serve on juries.

 

Continue reading Cutler and Penrod (1989) ‘The Eye Witness, The Expert Psychologist and the Jury.’ →