The Influence of Parole Case Characteristics and Construal Level on Parole Decisions and Perceived Humanness

Author

Yi Sin Goh, CUNY John Jay CollegeFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-24-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department/Program

Forensic Psychology

Language

English

First Advisor or Mentor

Mark Fondacaro

Second Reader

Charlie Stone

Third Advisor

Steven Penrod

Abstract

Despite the low rate of discretionary parole release in New York, much is still unknown about the processes underpinning parole decisions. The present paper delves into how aggravating and mitigating parole case characteristics (e.g. institutional behavior) relate to parole decisions and the perceived humanness of parole applicants. The paper also examines how construal level can moderate the above relationships. Finally, a moderated mediation model outlining the pattern of these relationships is posited and tested. 122 New York residents were recruited online and randomly assigned to read either an abstractly or concretely construed transcript for an interview with a parole applicant. Participants then completed a questionnaire asking how they perceived the case’s characteristics, whether they would grant or deny parole, their decision certainty, their preferred specific parole disposition and the perceived humanness of the applicant. Results showed that cases perceived to have more mitigating characteristics were associated with greater certainty in granting parole, more lenient specific dispositions, and more perceived humanness. Additionally, for cases perceived to have more aggravating characteristics, abstract (versus concrete) construals led to greater certainty in granting parole. However, construal level did not moderate the relationships involving specific disposition or perceived humanness. Lastly, the posited model was partially supported, such that the direct effect of case characteristics on decision certainty was moderated by construal level; however, construal level did not moderate the indirect effect through perceived humanness. These findings lay the groundwork for more extensive parole research and have implications for parole applicants preparing for parole reviews.

Recommended Citation

Goh, Yi Sin, "The Influence of Parole Case Characteristics and Construal Level on Parole Decisions and Perceived Humanness" (2022). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/jj_etds/230