A preliminary investigation on the performance of brain-injured witnesses on target-absent line-up procedures

International Journal of Law and Psychiatry

2020

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Individuals who enter police custody may experience mental ill health, making it highly imperative for custody staff to be knowledgeable and competent in this areahowever, reports suggest this is not always the case (Leese & Russel, 2017). The present study examined the differences in casual attributions and stereotypes of individuals experiencing mental ill health, namely schizophrenia, between police custody staff (n =77) and members of the general population (n =85). Using the Attribution Questionnaire (AQ-27; Corrigan, 2004), the current study found that the general population held more negative attitudes towards individuals experiencing mental ill health than police custody staff. In particular they endorsed the attributions anger, avoidance, dangerousness and fear. Custody staff were found to be more willing to help vulnerable adults than the general population. In addition, people who knew a family member or friend experiencing mental ill health scored higher on the help and pity attributions.

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An examination of stigmatising attributions about mental illness amongst police custody staff

Wainwright

International Journal of Law and Psychiatry

2020

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“…The data set used for the present study was compiled of online news articles and while a lot of valuable information was found, the information available from the sources was limited. In addition, to police data, victim and witness accounts may also provide more detailed and complete offence datahowever, one would have to consider potential issues with the reliability and accuracy of witness recollections (Gibert and Mojtahedi, 2019;Mojtahedi, 2017;Mojtahedi et al, , 2018aMojtahedi et al, , 2018bMojtahedi et al, , 2017aMojtahedi et al, , 2017bMojtahedi et al, , 2016.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A multidimensional scalogram analysis of UK acid attacks: exploring the differences and similarities in offending characteristics

Mann

Leadley

2020

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Purpose This study aims to determine whether cases of acid attacks within the UK could be differentiated based on the offence characteristics and motivations. Design/methodology/approach The study used a multi-dimensional scalogram analysis (MSA) to examine the similarities and differences between the behaviours that were acted out during the 30 cases. Findings Results found a clear division amongst acid attack offenders through multiple variables, mainly pertaining to whether the attack was predicated and the motivation. This was found to be comparable with instrumental and expressive actions. Practical implications The findings have potential to contribute to psychological theory to categorise and define acid attack offences. This would also greatly assist in suspect prioritisation and other aspects of police investigations. Originality/value Reports of acid attacks within the UK are rising. The motivations behind these offences are predominantly related to gang violence and acts of revenge. However, the current literature around acid attacks has largely focussed on the victim perspective, with little research around offenders and their actions.

“…Conflictingly, there is evidence which suggests that there are no gender differences in susceptibility to cowitness influence (Butts, Mixon, Mulekar, & Bringmann, 1995;McWilliam & Mojtahedi, 2018;Schwartz, 2013). The conflicting results can be attributed to each study incorporating varying visual stimuli and memory recall tasks-as the process of social influence is highly dependent on the task at hand (Baron, Vandello, & Brunsman, 1996;Suls & Wheeler, 2000).…”

Section: Age Gender and Cowitness Suggestibilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the effects of age and gender on cowitness suggestibility during blame attribution

Journal Invest Psychology

Ιωάννου

Hammond

et al. 2019

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Despite a large body of research investigating the effects of age and gender on eyewitness suggestibility, the majority of studies has focussed on the impressionability of participants when attempting to recall the presence of items from an event. Very little research has attempted to investigate the effects of age and gender on the suggestibility of eyewitnesses when attempting to attribute blame. Participants (N = 268) viewed and discussed a crime (video) with cowitnesses before giving individual statements. Confederates were used to expose the participants to misinformation during the discussion, suggesting that the wrong bystander was responsible for the offence. Findings indicated that participants who encountered the misinformation were more likely to make a false blame attribution and were more confident in their erroneous judgements. The results found no significant age‐ or gender‐related differences in blame conformity rates; however, male eyewitnesses showed greater levels of overconfidence in their false responses than female participants, after encountering cowitness misinformation.