Differences in Person Perception

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate trait characteristics that influence a person’s perspective towards the prisoner population. Participants completed a perception exercise where they scored prisoners with and without special circumstances (defined in this research as mental illness symptoms). Results demonstrated that the judgement of prisoners was dependent upon the order in which the material was presented as well as the characteristics in question. The findings provide further insight into societal norms of mental illness stigma and their influence on perception of the people involved with the criminal justice system.