Applying Moral Foundations Theory to the Explanation of Capital Jurors’ Sentencing Decisions

Abstract

This study applies moral foundations theory to capital juror decision making. We hypothesized that binding moral foundations would predict death qualification and punitive sentencing decisions, whereas individualizing moral foundations would be associated with juror disqualification and a leniency effect. Additionally, we considered whether moral foundations can explain differences in death penalty application between conservatives and liberals. Respondents from two independent samples participated in a mock-juror task in which the circumstances of a hypothetical defendant’s case varied. Results revealed moral foundations were strong predictors of death qualification. The binding and individualizing foundations were related to sentencing decisions in the expected ways. Supporting our contention that moral foundations operate differently across different types of cases, heterogeneity in the effects of moral foundations was observed. Finally, we found support for the hypothesis that the relationship between sentencing decisions and conservatism would be attenuated by moral foundations.     

Criticizing the image of the student as consumer: examining legal trends and administrative responses in the US and UK1

There is widespread concern that higher education is being compromised by being turned into a ‘commodity’ to be ‘consumed’. This article represents an initial attempt to explore the trends in both the UK and US, and considers how the law has responded to them. It argues, however, that there is an important distinction to be drawn between ‘commodification’ and ‘consumerism’. Education has always been a commodity to be bought and sold; the true danger lies in the move to a ‘rights-based’ culture where students (and politicians) see education merely as something to be ‘consumed’ rather than as an activity in which to participate. Whilst the law seems thus far to have been something of a bulwark against this movement, it remains an open question as to whether this will continue to be the case if HEIs do not themselves act more proactively in challenging this damaging view of higher education.     

经济全球化与福利经济制度改革

经济全球化进程的加快使一国政府对国内经济政策的控制力减弱,并使各福利国家的社会福利政策面临新的挑战。经济全球化推动了新自由主义理论的发展,动摇了福利经济制度实施的理论基础;并使福利经济制度由二战后的凯恩斯主义“福利国家”向工作福利国家转变;它既使国家的经济组织和行为边缘化,同时又推动了福利经济制度在全球的发展。各“福利国家”一方面积极参与、推进全球化和经济国际化;同时又根据环境的变化对福利经济制度进行改革,其改革的趋势是逐步从“普遍性原则”向“定向原则”过渡,社会福利朝着社会化、市场化、私人化、多元化、国际化等方向发展。中国政府也应积极寻求国际合作以主动参与全球化,同时对福利经济制度进行改革,建立完善的社会福利制度体系,使社会福利的供给者多元化,加强社区建设,协调和增进中国社区和社会组织在国家、集体和个人权益、责任上的高度一致性。     

试析《共产党宣言》与中国共产党纲领建设——纪念恩格斯逝世110周年

世界第一个无产阶级政党共产主义者同盟及其纲领《共产党宣言》诞生于19世纪中叶的西欧是历史的必然。《共产党宣言》关于无产阶级政党纲领的理论成为中国共产党制定纲领的理论渊源。中国共产党纲领的制定和修改经历了一个曲折的历程。党的最低纲领与最高纲领是辩证统一的,统一于建设有中国特色社会主义的伟大实践之中。     

地役权本质与存在原则的法律与经济分析——兼评《物权法（草案）》关于地役权的规定

地役权的本质和存在原则是地役权的核心问题,而澄清地役权的核心问题是探讨在我国物权法中如何合理的构建地役权制度的理论前提.虽然现代物权和债权的界线有模糊的趋势,但地役权毕竟是一种独立的物权种类,有必要来讨论地役权的存在原则,以便得出地役权在现代的存在状态.地役权的本质和存在原则是一种动态博弈,博弈的结果就是使概念上的地役权和实际操作中的地役权达到一种均衡,一种和谐.     

论新时期公安院校形象设计

公安院校形象设计是公安院校寻求广泛社会支持、提高综合竞争力、满足不同社会群体心理诉求的总体规划。设计良好、有特色的高校形象,要在确立办学理念的前提下,通过行为识别系统规范学校运行,通过视觉识别系统提升学校形象,并根据情况分别采用以传播媒介为主、以交际为主、以服务为主、以自我完善为主等不同的模式。     

The legislative recreation of RICO: Reinforcing the ``myth' of organized crime

This paper uses historical content analysis to examine the implementation ofthe Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). It is argued thatthe historical events leading to the definition of organized crime as an alienconspiracy still affect RICO's use some 30 years after its passage. This paper applies state-centered theory to the theoretical frameworks of sociology of knowledge and innovation diffusion. This approach is used to relate the current implementation and controversy of RICO to the alien conspiracy view. Thought of in this context, legal implementation is the result of a knowledge creation and diffusion process. This paper demonstrates how one knowledge diffusionprocess (the acceptance of organized crime as a national conspiracy in 1970) leads to a new knowledge diffusion process (the use of RICO).