Looking deathworthy: perceived stereotypicality of Black defendants predicts capital-sentencing outcomes.
Researchers previously have investigated the role of race in capital sentencing, and in particular, whether the race of the defendant or victim influences the likelihood of a death sentence. In the present study, we examined whether the likelihood of being sentenced to death is influenced by the degree to which a Black defendant is perceived to have a stereotypically Black appearance. Controlling for a wide array of factors, we found that in cases involving a White victim, the more stereotypically Black a defendant is perceived to be, the more likely that person is to be sentenced to death.
Eberhardt
Jennifer L
JL
Department of Psychology, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA. jle@psych.stanford.edu
Davies
Paul G
PG
Purdie-Vaughns
Valerie J
VJ
Johnson
Sheri Lynn
SL