Criminal Firesetting: A Review of Available Psychological Interventions and an Experimental Consideration of Expert Witness Credibility in Courtroom Decision-Making

Kipoulas, Eleftherios (2023) Criminal Firesetting: A Review of Available Psychological Interventions and an Experimental Consideration of Expert Witness Credibility in Courtroom Decision-Making. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Aims: This thesis portfolio concerns the effectiveness of the available psychological interventions for adults who deliberately set fires. Secondly, an empirical research study investigated how the experimental manipulation of the expert witness’s gender and profession (Psychiatrist/Clinical Psychologist) impacted mock jurors’ perception of credibility, judgment, and decision-making in England and Wales.

Method: A wide range of psychological, medical, and social databases were systematically searched to provide a comprehensive review of the quantitative evaluations of psychological interventions targeting adult firesetting. The empirical study employed a validated, widely used Witness Credibility Scale in a mock video-based experimental design to explore the main and interaction effects of expert witness gender and profession on mock jurors’ perceptions of credibility and decision-making.

Results: Fifteen studies (n = 358) were included in the systematic review, indicating the scarce evidence on this topic. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) was the most commonly used intervention, predominantly in a group format. CBT has been primarily evaluated with highly selected samples (i.e., mental health inpatients or prisoners) and secure living environments in the United Kingdom (UK), providing short- and medium-term benefits in reducing key psychological vulnerabilities associated with firesetting. The empirical study findings revealed that credibility differences between male and female clinical psychologists and psychiatrists exist on the witness stand. Male psychiatrists, followed by female clinical psychologists, received the highest scores in most credibility variables. Finally, jurors were more likely to make decisions in line with highly credible expert witnesses.

Conclusions: This thesis portfolio suggests that larger and high-quality prospective studies are needed internationally and in multi-sites to assess whether the existing specialist firesetting interventions reduce firesetting risk. While this portfolio provides the first empirical evidence in the UK for further expert witness and juror training, more research is needed to understand jurors’ unconscious biases and cognitive processes in making legal decisions.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
Depositing User:	Chris White
Date Deposited:	18 Nov 2024 09:54
Last Modified:	18 Nov 2024 09:54
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/97703
DOI:

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