Contrasting Guilty Minds: Exposure to Contrast Concepts Narrows Conceptions of Acting Knowingly and Recklessly
Overview
Paper Summary
This study found that people's judgments of whether someone acted "knowingly" or "recklessly" are influenced by the other options presented. Participants were more likely to say someone acted "knowingly" when that was the only culpable option, and less likely when "recklessly" was also available. This suggests that these terms are contrast-sensitive, similar to "intentionally".
Explain Like I'm Five
When judging someone's guilt, whether they acted "knowingly" or "recklessly" depends on what other options are presented. Basically, how we label someone's mental state is relative.
Possible Conflicts of Interest
None identified
Identified Limitations
Rating Explanation
This is a well-designed study that provides compelling evidence for contrast sensitivity in legal judgments. Although the use of mock jurors and the focus on a single culture are limitations, the findings have important theoretical and practical implications for understanding how people attribute mental states in legal contexts.
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