Perceptions of false confessions: Reducing prejudice toward exonerees through the use of educational materials

Educational campaigns are commonly used for prejudice reduction (Levy Paluck & Green, 2009). We were interested if educational campaigns, such as those used by innocence organizations, were successful in reducing prejudice toward exonerees. In particular, we examined whether prejudice toward an individual who falsely confessed could be reduced through watching educational videos (personal story video and/or fact based video) about false confessions and wrongful conviction. Participants who watched the personal story video rated the exoneree as significantly less responsible for his wrongful conviction than participants who did not watch the personal story video. The two different videos interacted to impact willingness to assist the exoneree and attitudes toward the exoneree. The findings are discussed within the context of Allport’s contact hypothesis and explore the implications for exonerees who falsely confess.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Criminology

Grantor

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Savage, Meaghan E.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Clow, Kimberley

• Wrongful conviction
• Prejudice reduction
• Exonerees
• False confessions
• Contact hypothesis

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10155/344

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/344