Credibility assessments of alibi accounts: the role of cultural intergroup bias. Issue 4 (4th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rozmann, Nir; Nahari, Galit
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry, psychology, and law. Volume 29:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 535
• Page End: 548
• Publication Date: 2022-07-04
• Subjects: alibi evaluation -- credibility assessment -- deception detection -- intergroup bias -- SIT -- social identity theory; Criminal psychology -- Periodicals; Forensic psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mentally ill offenders -- Periodicals; 345.9404
• DOI: 10.1080/13218719.2021.1938274
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1321-8719

Abstract

Abstract : Research has shown that judges and jurors are influenced by suspect ethnicity and that they might discriminate against out-group suspects in making decisions. This study examined the tendency to favor in-group members, as predicted by social identity theory, in assessing alibi credibility. Forty Israeli-Jewish and 40 Israeli-Arab participants assessed the credibility of an alibi statement provided by a suspect who was either Israeli-Jewish or Israeli-Arab. Findings show that participants were more likely to believe the alibi when it was provided by an in-group suspect than by an out-group suspect, supporting intergroup bias in alibi credibility assessments. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.