Do Pre-Trial Juror Attitudes Predict Rape Trial Verdict Decisions? Investigating the Role of Rape Myth Beliefs, Contemporary Sexist Attitudes and Sexual Victimization Experiences on Juror Decision-Making

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of rape myth beliefs, contemporary sexist attitudes and sexual victimization experiences upon juror decision-making. Four hundred sixty-five jury-eligible participants took part in a rape trial re-enactment high in ecological validity. Pre-trial, mock-jurors completed an online questionnaire assessing rape-supportive and sexist attitudes alongside victimization experiences. Post-trial, jurors reached verdict decisions and completed the juror decision scale to assess belief in trial testimony. Analysis revealed that rape myth beliefs and sexist attitudes were significantly related to the verdict decisions and complainant believability ratings that jurors returned. Rape myths were also predictive of jurors’ defendant believability ratings, though sexual victimization experience had no discernible influence on juror judgements or decisions. Implications surrounding attitudinal bias are discussed.