University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

Cigarette cravings impair mock jurors' recall of trial evidence

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 15:07 authored by Daniel ZujDaniel Zuj, Matthew PalmerMatthew Palmer, Kemps, E
Prior research has demonstrated that cravings for substances, such as cigarettes and food, impair performance on basic cognitive tasks. This experiment examined whether these effects translate to impaired cognition on an important task in an applied setting: jury duty. Forty-six smokers were randomly allocated to a high-craving or control condition of an in vivo procedure designed to invoke cigarette cravings. Participants were then asked to act as mock jurors and read a written legal transcript based on evidence presented in an actual civil case. Later, participants were tested on their recall and recognition of information from the transcript. Participants in the high-craving condition recalled fewer correct facts from the transcript than participants in the control condition, but cravings did not significantly affect the recognition of trial information. These results are consistent with cognitive models of cravings, highlight the importance of providing jurors with sufficient breaks, and suggest that cravings may impair cognition in a variety of important applied settings.

History

Publication title

Psychology, Crime and Law

Volume

21

Issue

5

Pagination

413-425

ISSN

1068-316X

Department/School

School of Psychological Sciences

Publisher

Routledge Taylor & Francis Ltd

Place of publication

United Kingdom

Rights statement

Copyright 2014 Taylor & Francis

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in psychology

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC