Applying the revenge system to the criminal justice system and jury decision-making

Citation

Roberts SC & Murray J (2013) Applying the revenge system to the criminal justice system and jury decision-making. Commentary on: Cognitive systems for revenge and forgiveness, ME McCullough, R Kurzban, and BA Tabak, Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2013), 36, 1, 1-15.. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 36 (1), pp. 34-35. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X12000581

Abstract
McCullough et al. propose an evolved cognitive revenge system which imposes retaliatory costs on aggressors. They distinguish between this and other forms of punishment (e.g., those administered by judges) which are not underpinned by a specifically designed evolutionary mechanism. Here we outline mechanisms and circumstances through which the revenge system might nonetheless infiltrate decision-making within the criminal justice system.

Keywords
jury; punishment; psychology

Journal
Behavioral and Brain Sciences: Volume 36, Issue 1

People

Professor Craig Roberts

Professor of Social Psychology, Psychology