Effects of legal culture on lay judgment of self-defense

Cynthia, A. M. , & (2013). Effects of legal culture on lay judgment of self-defense. Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology, 27(2), 69-83, https://doi.org/10.21193/kjspp.2013.27.2.005

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Abstract

Two questions about lay people’s judgment of self-defense plea were examined with trial scenarios based on actual criminal cases in which the defendants plead not guilty by reason of self-defense: (1) Whether legal culture or cultural style of attribution influences the lay judgment of self-defense; (2) Whether lay people use situational information to determine self-defense. From the responses of 202 Korean and 205 American college students, it was suggested that legal culture, but not the cultural style of attribution, exerts strong influences on the lay judgments of self-defense. It was also found that lay people, regardless of culture, incorporate situational information sensitively to arrive at a judgment of self-defense. Implications of the findings for jury trials in which the defendants claim self-defense were discussed.

keywords: 정당방위, 법문화, 근본귀인오류, judgment of self-defense, legal culture, fundamental attribution error

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Article Contents

Vol.27 No.2

Effects of legal culture on lay judgment of self-defense

Abstract

Reference

Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology