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A Social Psychological Analysis of the Criminal Justice System

A Social Psychological Analysis of the Criminal Justice System Law and Human Behavior, Vol. 7, No. 4, 1983 Book Review Essay A Social Psychological Analysis of the Criminal Justice System NorbertL. Kerr* INTRODUCTION It is common for introductory psychology textbooks to assert in their first chapter that psychology is a science and that it is the use of particular methods, not an accumulation of knowledge, which makes an inquiry scientific. Martin Greenberg and Barry Ruback's new text, Social Psychology of the Criminal Justice System, nicely illustrates both the promise of the scientific study of behavior in the crim- inal justice system, and the current rudimentary state of knowledge in this area. They introduce us to a social psychology of the criminal justice system which is long on powerful theory and methods, but which is short on data, primarily because the discipline is still in its infancy. Consistent with their social psychological orientation, Greenberg and Ruback have focused on individual decision makers in the system, whom they term ac- tors, rather than upon the institutions in which they serve. Separate chapters focus on the victim/bystander, police officer, prosecuting and defense attorneys, juror, judge, probation officer, prison guard, parole board member, and parole officer. The chapters are sequenced chronologically, following http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Law and Human Behavior American Psychological Association

A Social Psychological Analysis of the Criminal Justice System

Law and Human Behavior , Volume 7 (4): 14 – Dec 1, 1983

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References (24)

Publisher
American Psychological Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1983 American Psychological Association
ISSN
0147-7307
eISSN
1573-661X
DOI
10.1037/h0093996
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Law and Human Behavior, Vol. 7, No. 4, 1983 Book Review Essay A Social Psychological Analysis of the Criminal Justice System NorbertL. Kerr* INTRODUCTION It is common for introductory psychology textbooks to assert in their first chapter that psychology is a science and that it is the use of particular methods, not an accumulation of knowledge, which makes an inquiry scientific. Martin Greenberg and Barry Ruback's new text, Social Psychology of the Criminal Justice System, nicely illustrates both the promise of the scientific study of behavior in the crim- inal justice system, and the current rudimentary state of knowledge in this area. They introduce us to a social psychology of the criminal justice system which is long on powerful theory and methods, but which is short on data, primarily because the discipline is still in its infancy. Consistent with their social psychological orientation, Greenberg and Ruback have focused on individual decision makers in the system, whom they term ac- tors, rather than upon the institutions in which they serve. Separate chapters focus on the victim/bystander, police officer, prosecuting and defense attorneys, juror, judge, probation officer, prison guard, parole board member, and parole officer. The chapters are sequenced chronologically, following

Journal

Law and Human BehaviorAmerican Psychological Association

Published: Dec 1, 1983

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