Estimating the speed of vehicles: the influence of stereotypes

Abstract

Davies and Patel (2005, Legal and Criminological Psychology, 10, 45–62) demonstrated that stereotypes associated with particular types of car influenced judgements of culpability in a road accident report. This study explores whether stereotypes influence judgements of the speed of different vehicles. In Experiment 1, participants observed films of a BMW 3 Series and VW Polo being driven at 20, 40 and 60 mph. Accuracy of speed estimates was high and no effect of stereotyping was observed. This finding was replicated in Experiment 2 when the stereotype of a ‘typical’ BMW or Polo driver was instantiated prior to viewing the films and despite participants predicting that the speed of the BMW would be substantially higher than the Polo. In Experiment 3, speed estimates were made unexpectedly a day after viewing the films. In accordance with the stereotype, the BMW was now judged as being driven significantly faster than the Polo at the same actual speed. Consistent with findings from person perception, these results suggest that when unambiguous countervailing information is present, stereotypical influences are minimised or overwhelmed, but much stronger effects occur when access to critical information is impaired or ambiguous. The implications of these findings for witness estimates of vehicle speed are discussed.     

Reinforced self-affirmation as a method for reducing the eyewitness misinformation effect

The misinformation effect occurs when an eyewitness includes information in their account that is incongruent with the event they witnessed, and stems from being exposed to incorrect external sources. Yet little research has been undertaken on techniques that could protect eyewitnesses from the influence of misinformation, despite the dangerous consequences of distorted testimony. In this article, a method of enhancing self-confidence, called reinforced self-affirmation (RSA), was proven to reduce the misinformation effect in five experiments. First, participants watched or heard an original event take place. They were then exposed to post-event material containing false information about that event, and finally they were given a memory test about the original material. The RSA, which took place either before the post-event material or before the final test, consisted of self-affirmation (recalling the greatest achievements in life) and external positive feedback (simulated ‘good’ results in a memory test or fake favourable results on personality tests). A meta-analysis of all five experiments revealed that the overall effect of RSA on reducing the misinformation was significant (effect size of 0.94), suggesting that this technique has the potential to be developed for practical use to make eyewitnesses less vulnerable to misinformation.     

合意管辖与应诉管辖之再探讨

合意管辖具有实体法律行为和诉讼行为的双重性质,对其分析需要从两个视角同时考察。而将应诉管辖理解为默示合意管辖并不妥当。就合意管辖和应诉管辖的基本要件而言,现行立法规定尚存在诸多不合理或有待澄清之处。合意管辖的效力在司法适用中产生的争议应当区分不同情形予以审查认定。     

非营利组织税收政策的双重效应分析

由于非营利组织在公益服务领域的特殊地位和作用,各国政府普遍采用了优惠的税收政策来支持其发展.各国对非营利组织税法规制具有优惠性、特殊性和限制性等一些共同特征,其形成原因是由于宗教自由、弥补政府和市场缺陷等方面的需要.该项政策对非营利组织和社会经济发展具有双重效应.我国应积极借鉴他国政府这一方面税法规制政策的经验和做法,努力改善对我国非营利部门的税收管理工作,以促进我国非营利组织的健康发展.     

黑龙江省对俄旅游合作的新思路探析

区域旅游合作是在市场经济基础上的资源互融、客源互动、产品互补、产业联动和利益共享的综合性合作,是以实现区域旅游产业横向联合发展,提高地方旅游总体发展水平的必然选择。     

全球化视野下等值效应理论在国际广告翻译中运用

本文结合中国广告网和梅花电视广告库2004-2006年的最新案例,从功能语言学角度,运用等值效应理论和对百事可乐本土化进行分析.对外国广告本土化和中国广告国际化进行探讨,提出了全球化视野、本土化操作之策略,有助于增加国际受众的心理和文化认同.     

全球化对当代国际关系的影响

人类社会的全球化进程始于近代资本主义的对外扩张 ,西方资本主义国家在全球化的发展过程中始终扮演了推动者的作用。全球化的发展透视出一个以经济为中心 ,逐步向政治、文化等领域扩散的发展态势。西方国家在推动全球化发展的过程中 ,利用其资本、技术、信息和组织的优势 ,一直谋求把资本主义的经济模式、政治制度、价值观念和西方文化推向全球 ,构建西方发达国家主导的世界秩序。     

结果加重犯构成要件管窥

结果加重犯历来都是刑法学研究中的一个重点、难点问题,尤其是结果加重犯相对于普通犯罪行为(即结果加重犯中所称的基本犯)而言,具有较为特殊的构成要件特征,由此使得结果加重犯成为在刑法范畴中情况比较复杂的犯罪形态。本文尝试从分析结果加重犯的构成要件入手,揭示出结果加重犯与基本犯构成方面的异同,以期有助于更好地理解结果加重犯这一特殊的犯罪形态。     

新刑事法律溯及力范围比较研究

从世界范围看,有利行为人的新刑事法律溯及范围在立法上有三种模式溯及以前的所有行为;排除犯罪性的法律溯及以前的所有行为,其他法律只溯及未经判决或判决未确定的行为;溯及以前未经判决或判决未确定的行为.我国刑法的规定属于第三种模式.我国刑法的规定在犯罪与刑罚方面都会产生不公正的结果,特别涉及到死刑的时候;而且我国的规定与即将加入的国际人权公约有冲突,与采用相同模式的其他国家也存在很大差距.建议对我国刑法第12条第2款进行修订.     

关于提高道德教育成效若干问题的思考

道德教育是社会主义道德建设的重要手段,提高公民的道德素质,教育是基础。要紧紧抓住影响人们道德观念形成和发展的重要环节进行教育。社会主义道德教育是公民用高尚的道德情操相互影响的过程,要通过互帮互学增强教育的吸引力;注重道德情感的交流,以情感人,以情动人;通过道德实践活动加深公民对社会主义道德的认识和理解;强化道德批评的作用。