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Publication
Autismo e justiça: O impacto do diagnóstico nas decisões de culpabilidade e pena
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
O presente estudo examinou se a informação sobre o diagnóstico de autismo
influenciava as perceções de culpa e a atribuição de penas por parte de um júri fictício
num caso de violação. Para tal, 202 participantes foram divididos em dois grupos: um
grupo que recebeu informação sobre o diagnóstico de autismo do réu e outro que não
recebeu qualquer informação. Após lerem uma vinheta que descrevia um crime de
violação, os participantes avaliaram a culpabilidade do réu e indicaram a pena que
consideravam apropriada. Adicionalmente, foram analisadas as crenças prévias dos
participantes sobre a influência das doenças mentais em condenações injustas e penas,
bem como o efeito de variáveis sociodemográficas, como o sexo e a idade, nas suas
decisões. Os resultados revelaram que a informação sobre o diagnóstico de autismo não
influenciou significativamente as perceções de culpa nem a severidade das penas
atribuídas. No entanto, as crenças prévias sobre a influência das doenças mentais
associaram-se a penas mais leves, embora não tenham afetado as decisões de culpa. Estes
resultados indicam que, em crimes graves como a violação, a gravidade do crime tende a
prevalecer sobre fatores atenuantes relacionados com a saúde mental, como o diagnóstico
de autismo.
ABSTRACT: This study investigated whether the provision of information about an autism diagnosis influenced jurors' perceptions of guilt and sentencing decisions in a mock rape case. A total of 202 participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group received information indicating that the defendant had been diagnosed with autism, while the other group did not receive this information. After reading a vignette detailing a rape incident, participants were asked to assess the defendant's guilt and recommend an appropriate prison sentence. Additionally, the study explored participants' pre-existing beliefs regarding the influence of mental illness on wrongful convictions and sentencing and examined the moderating effects of demographic variables such as gender and age. Results indicated that the autism diagnosis did not significantly affect perceptions of guilt, or the severity of the sentences imposed. However, participants who believed that mental illness should influence sentencing were more likely to recommend lighter sentences, although this belief did not impact their guilt judgements. These findings suggest that, in cases of serious crimes such as rape, the gravity of the offence may overshadow jurors' consideration of mitigating factors related to mental health.
ABSTRACT: This study investigated whether the provision of information about an autism diagnosis influenced jurors' perceptions of guilt and sentencing decisions in a mock rape case. A total of 202 participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group received information indicating that the defendant had been diagnosed with autism, while the other group did not receive this information. After reading a vignette detailing a rape incident, participants were asked to assess the defendant's guilt and recommend an appropriate prison sentence. Additionally, the study explored participants' pre-existing beliefs regarding the influence of mental illness on wrongful convictions and sentencing and examined the moderating effects of demographic variables such as gender and age. Results indicated that the autism diagnosis did not significantly affect perceptions of guilt, or the severity of the sentences imposed. However, participants who believed that mental illness should influence sentencing were more likely to recommend lighter sentences, although this belief did not impact their guilt judgements. These findings suggest that, in cases of serious crimes such as rape, the gravity of the offence may overshadow jurors' consideration of mitigating factors related to mental health.
Description
Dissertação de Mestrado
apresentada no ISPA – Instituto
Universitário para obtenção de grau de
Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia
Forense.
Keywords
Autismo Responsabilidade criminal Decisão do júri Atribuição de sentenças Crime sexual Autism Spectrum Disorder Criminal responsibility Jury decision-making Sentencing outcomes Sexual crime