Specifying the information effect: reference points and procedural justifications affect legal attitudes in four survey experiments

摘要: Providing detailed information about sentencing reduces punitive attitudes of laymen (the effect). We assess whether this extends to modest treatments and probe which specific informational types matter most. In addition previous studies, we include affective measures trust in judges. four survey experiments, 1778 Dutch participants were exposed a sentence concerning serious traffic offense resulting fatal accident. Studies 1 2 explore the effect press release on negative positive affect. 3 4 effects various affect Modest generally heightened affect, reduced and—sometimes—increased procedural cues reference points had sizable legal attitudes. The pertain broader set than currently presumed literature. Furthermore, subtle containing can change towards judicial verdicts. Future research needs if finding extends to other contexts.