Jury Psychology: Social Aspects of Trial Processes: Psychology in the Courtroom

Lieberman (U. of Nevada) and Krauss (Claremont McKenna College) present the first volume of a two-volume set reviewing the major areas in which psychology is relevant to court proceedings. This volume focuses on how courts and juries make decisions with special emphasis on the application of psychological evidence in a standard trial, and to the nature of the trial itself. The volume's eight chapters discuss the validity of jury decision-making research, procedural justice, theoretical models of jury decision making, the effects (or ineffectiveness) of admonitions to disregard inadmissible evidence and pretrial publicity, the psychology of jury selection, the psychology of the jury instruction process, the social psychology of capital cases, and psychological issues in civil trials. The other volume focuses on the use of psychological expert testimony and evidence. Annotation 穢2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)