Graduation Year
2020
Date of Submission
5-2020
Document Type
Campus Only Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Psychology
Reader 1
Daniel Krauss
Rights Information
2020 Eunice H Song
Abstract
Crime control theater (CCT) refers to criminal justice policies that have strong public support, but are ineffective in achieving their goals and have profound unintended negative consequences (Griffin & Miller, 2008). The present research examines participants’ (n=87) attitudes towards two CCT policies—Amber alert systems and sexual offender registration laws. Participants’ ratings of support and effectiveness were assessed before and after viewing a factual presentation highlighting the negative consequences of these policies. It was hypothesized that need for cognition (NFC) would moderate the relationship between policy type and policy support. Although participants’ responses were unaffected by the policy manipulation, exposure to counterevidence lowered support and effectiveness ratings, especially for individuals high in NFC. The legal and policy implications are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Song, Eunice, "How Need for Cognition Impacts Attitudes Towards Crime Control Theater" (2020). CMC Senior Theses. 2493.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/2493
This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.
