Citation

Côté-Lussier C. Emotion 2013; 13(6): 999-1003.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/a0034308

PMID

24219396

Abstract

The human ability to "mind-read" is fundamental in social interaction (e.g., contributing to the experience of empathy). The present research tests the hypothesis that perceiving anger in others on the basis of facial cues is sufficient to elicit very rapid punitive responses toward crime. The results suggest that individuals are faster to harshly punish criminals who appear to be angry, and that this effect emerges early in the decision-making process. Black criminals receive quicker punitive responses, but the effect of ethnicity is weakened at high levels of perceived anger. The results are discussed in terms of associative processes linking anger to punishment, the human ability to simulate and experience others' emotional responses, and the role of anger in eliciting hostile aggression. The findings also have important policy implications, as they suggest that drumming up anger toward crime could engender punitive intuitions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved).

Language: en