Bloechl Angela L, Vitacco Michael J, Neumann Craig S, Erickson Steven E
University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA.
Int J Law Psychiatry. 2007 Mar-Apr;30(2):153-61. doi: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2006.03.007. Epub 2006 Dec 12.
This study's primary aim was to evaluate factors that influence attitudes toward the insanity defense in a sample of 578 college undergraduates. In addition to a comprehensive demographics survey, participants completed the Insanity Defense Attitude Scale-Revised (IDAS-R) and the Attitude Toward the Death Penalty (ATDP) Scale. Favorable attitude toward capital punishment and misperceptions about overuse of the insanity defense were related to negative attitudes toward the insanity defense. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that possessing a favorable attitude toward capital punishment was the most robust predictor of a negative attitude toward the insanity defense. These findings provide valuable information about factors that create and maintain biases against the insanity defense and suggest areas of inquiry that could aid attorneys in selecting unbiased jurors.
本研究的主要目的是在578名大学本科生样本中评估影响对精神错乱辩护态度的因素。除了全面的人口统计学调查外，参与者还完成了修订后的精神错乱辩护态度量表（IDAS-R）和死刑态度量表（ATDP）。对死刑的支持态度以及对精神错乱辩护过度使用的误解与对精神错乱辩护的负面态度有关。分层回归分析表明，对死刑持支持态度是对精神错乱辩护持负面态度的最有力预测因素。这些发现提供了关于产生和维持对精神错乱辩护偏见的因素的有价值信息，并提出了有助于律师挑选无偏见陪审员的调查领域。
