Views of Criminals

Social Interaction 1

Running head: SOCIAL INTERACTION

The Effect of Social Interaction with a Felon and Non-Felon

Social Interaction 2

Abstract

Research of social perception has shown that peoples perceptions of others are due to the persons psychical appearance and background. A background such as being a convicted felon might effect the way that people perceive and interact with them in society. As part of an independent group design, 29 college students ( 5 men, 24 women) read two fictitious scenarios about comfortableness and social percpetions of felons and non-felons. Interestingly, the participants had a tendency to feel more comfortable with the scenarios that described a non felon. These findings suggest that felons have a harder time fitting into our society of social perceptions and biases.

Social Interaction 3

Method

Participants

The participants in the study were a convenience sample of 29 students (5 men, 24 women) from Fullerton College. Their ages ranged from 18 to 28, with one exception of a 37 year old.

Design, Materials

The study used a experimental independent group design. Participants were required to read one of two different scenarios one involving a person with a criminal background and the other not. Both scenarios described a businessman, John throwing a temper tantrum after receiving a phone call. After the phone call he then fled to the break room where one of his colleagues soon followed. In one scenario the phone call was from his parole officer telling him he violated his probation rights and had to go back to jail (i.e. felon scenario). The colleagues reaction to finding out John was a felon was he was surprised and left the room to go back to work. In the other scenario the phone call was from his receptionist telling him that his car was broken into (i.e. Non-felon scenario). The colleagues reaction to finding out johns car got broken into was sympathetic and helped him take care of the situation.

Each scenario was followed by a questionaire to examin the participants reaction to the scenario. They were asked to rate on a 5-point scale how comfortable they would be conversing with John after knowing the reason why he threw his temper tantrum and if they agree with the response of Johns colleague. The participants also answered demographic questions (i.e. age, sex, ethnic group and felon relations.

Procedure

Potential students from Fullerton College were approached about participating in a study that examines colleagues reactions to aggressive behavior in the workplace. After agreeing to participate and filling out a consent form they were randomly assigned to one of two scenarios that were related to aggressive behavior in the workplace. A businessman, John was put into the two different scenarios, one as a felon and the other