Juror Decision-Making and Diminished Responsibility: Diagnosis has little impact, but Stigma may matter (a partial replication of Baker et al (2022)).

Shapter, Sophie, Edwards, Ian, Fitton, Lucy and Beazley, Peter (2026) Juror Decision-Making and Diminished Responsibility: Diagnosis has little impact, but Stigma may matter (a partial replication of Baker et al (2022)). Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice. ISSN 2473-2850 (In Press)

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Abstract

Little is known about the interaction between mental health information, juror stigma towards mental health conditions, and juror decision-making. The present study sought to partially replicate previous research (Baker et al, 2022) which had investigated how a personality disorder diagnosis may influence juror decision-making concerning the partial defence of Diminished Responsibility. The present study recruited an online general population sample where participants viewed a set of and experimentally manipulated video vignettes describing a homicide offence. These were identical except for the clinical description used (‘psychopathy’, ‘personality disorder’ or ‘complex mental health condition’). The results suggested that whilst the diagnostic manipulation made little difference to Diminished Responsibility decisions, stigmatic attitudes towards offenders with mental health conditions, as well as a greater tendency to see the defendant’s actions as more within their personal control, were associated with a lower likelihood of supporting the partial defence of Diminished Responsibility.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This project is the accepted manuscript from Sophie Shapter's ClinPsyD thesis
Uncontrolled Keywords:	psychopathy,decision making,mock jury,experimental,personality disorder,law,clinical psychology,sdg 16 - peace, justice and strong institutions,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3308
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Law Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Mental Health and Social Care (fka Lifespan Health)
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	03 Feb 2026 13:30
Last Modified:	03 Feb 2026 13:30
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/101821
DOI:	issn:2473-2850

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