HEINOUS CRIME OR UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT - THE EFFECTS OF REMORSE ON RESPONSES TO MOCK CRIMINAL CONFESSIONS

Affect control theory provides a rigorous, testable model of emotion. We use simulations based on this theory to develop predictions about t he impact of emotion displays on identity attributions and subsequent sentencing recommendations in the context Of criminal confessions. We then test these predictions with an experimental study using vignettes of criminal confessions. Students responded to mock criminal confessi ons by drivers responsible for vehicular manslaughter who either appea red to be remorseful or showed no signs of remorse. Path analyses supp orted the predictions that displays of remorse have an indirect effect on severity of sentence recommendation through impact on identity ass essment.