THE ROLE OF JUROR ATTITUDES TOWARD SEXUAL HARASSMENT ON DAMAGE AWARDS FOR EMOTIONAL DISTRESS IN SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASES

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorVincent, John P.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberHays, J. Ray
dc.contributor.committeeMemberInman, Tonya
dc.creatorBurris Garner, Elizabeth Amy
dc.date.accessioned2014-07-24T17:14:12Z
dc.date.available2014-07-24T17:14:12Z
dc.date.createdMay 2014
dc.date.issued2014-05
dc.date.updated2014-07-24T17:14:12Z
dc.description.abstractResearch suggests that the prevalence of sexual harassment is high in both educational and employment contexts (Foulis & McCabe, 1997). Despite the number of sexual harassment claims, there is a paucity of research examining juror decision making with regards to compensatory damage awards in this context (Cass, Levett, & Kovera, 2010). Research on juror damage assignment in cases of preexisting psychological injury (e.g., “eggshell psyche”) is also sparse. Additionally, little research has been conducted to evaluate the effect that juror attitudes towards sexual harassment have on juror damage awards and the impact of closing arguments on juror decision making. Against this background, the aims of the present study are to (a) expand on previous research by further examining how juror attitudes towards sexual harassment, as measured by the Sexual Harassment Attitude Scale (SHAS; Mazer & Percival, 1989), affect determinations of non-economic, emotional injury claims in a sexual harassment scenario where a plaintiff has preexisting emotional issues (b) test the impact of closing arguments on juror decision making and (c) examine the interaction between closing arguments and juror attitudes on juror decision making, specifically whether juror attitudes towards sexual harassment, as measured by the Sexual Harassment Attitude Scale, will differentially impact juror’s damage awards in response to plaintiff’s or defendant’s closing arguments. The main effect of juror attitude was found to be significant, with mock jurors with intolerant attitudes toward sexual harassment awarding greater amounts in damages than mock jurors with tolerant attitudes toward sexual harassment. The implications of these results are discussed.
dc.description.departmentPsychology, Department of
dc.format.digitalOriginborn digital
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10657/729
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).
dc.subjectDamage Awards
dc.subjectSexual harassment
dc.subjectCompensatory damages
dc.subjectEggshell psyche
dc.subjectPreexisting Psychological Injury
dc.subjectSexual Harassment Attitude Scale
dc.subject.lcshClinical psychology
dc.titleTHE ROLE OF JUROR ATTITUDES TOWARD SEXUAL HARASSMENT ON DAMAGE AWARDS FOR EMOTIONAL DISTRESS IN SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASES
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.genreThesis
thesis.degree.collegeCollege of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
thesis.degree.departmentPsychology, Department of
thesis.degree.disciplinePsychology
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Houston
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.majorClinical Psychology
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
BURRISGARNER-THESIS-2014.pdf
Size:
757.93 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
LICENSE.txt
Size:
1.85 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download

Collections

Published ETD Collection