A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

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Prepare for the A Level Psychology Exam with our quiz. Access flashcards, multiple choice questions, and detailed explanations to enhance your study experience and boost your confidence.

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According to Dixon et al, what significantly impacted perceptions of guilt in suspects?

Type of crime committed
Social status
Witnesses’ accounts
Length of the interrogation

The correct answer is: Type of crime committed

The correct choice highlights that perceptions of guilt in suspects are significantly influenced by the type of crime committed. This finding aligns with Dixon et al.'s research, which emphasizes that different types of crimes can evoke varying emotional responses from observers and jurors. For instance, violent crimes may lead individuals to perceive a suspect as more guilty due to societal beliefs surrounding aggression and wrongdoing, compared to non-violent crimes that might not trigger the same level of emotional bias. Understanding the nature of the crime adds context to how suspects are viewed and judged, thereby directly affecting perceptions of their guilt. In psychological terms, this can relate to social categorization and the stereotypes associated with specific criminal behaviors, which can drive the perceptions formed by witnesses, jurors, and the public. Options like social status, witnesses' accounts, and the length of interrogation can influence perceptions, but they do not carry the same strength of impact as the crime type itself in the realm of Dixon et al.'s findings. Thus, this choice reflects the core insights of the study regarding how societal attitudes towards different crimes can shape perceptions of guilt.