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Student Research Conference
Perceptions of Criminal Behavior Based on Physical Appearance, Voice-Pitch, and Gender
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Student Research Conference
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Title
Perceptions of Criminal Behavior Based on Physical Appearance, Voice-Pitch, and Gender
Usage & Reproduction Rights
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Type
Video recordings
URI / Handle
http://hdl.handle.net/1961/muislandora:3002
Created
2015-01-01T00:00:00Z
Abstract
The studies examined how physical attractiveness and voice-pitch affect perception of how likely an individual is to have ever committed a crime, along with perception of the severity of the crime committed. In study one, participants were administered an online survey and were asked to view facial pictures of both sexes who were either highly attractive or unattractive. Facial pictures were previously rated for level of attractiveness. Participants were asked to rate each facial picture on how likely he or she thought the individual was to have ever committed a crime, and to indicate the severity of the crime committed. Crimes varied from most to least severe and violent and included homicide, physical assault and battery, breaking and entering, identity theft, vandalism (e.g., graffiti), and tax evasion. Results showed that unattractive individuals were perceived as being more likely to have ever committed a crime, and more likely to have committed a more severe and violent crime. In study two, participants were asked to listen to both male and female voices that were manipulated to be either higher-pitched or lower-pitched, and make the same ratings as in study one. Individuals with lower-pitched voices were perceived as being more likely to have ever committed a crime, and more likely to have committed a more severe and violent crime. Findings suggest that physical attractiveness, voice-pitch, and gender can influence one’s perception of an individual’s criminal behavior, and these findings could have implications in the study of biases in juror decision-making.
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