Cognitive-Experiential Self-Theory: An Analysis Of Teen Court Decision-Making By Youth Jurors And Adult Volunteers

Author

Colette Briana Harris, Prairie View A&M University

Date of Award

5-2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Discipline

Juvenile Justice

Abstract

Few studies have explored the effects of emotional or rational stimulations concerning juror verdicts. There has yet to be a study to examine the impact of cognitive or experiential processing on teen juror decision-making in teen courts. The survey of teen court participants after the completion of teen court jury trials was used to gauge whether rational processing or experiential processing was triggered in selecting a verdict. Cognitive-Experiential Self-Theory (CEST) and juvenile decision-making theories and perspectives (The Focal Concerns Theory of Sentencing, Attribution Theory, and Formal Legal Perspective) were used to explain teen jurors’ decision-making. A sample of 107 grade, middle, and high school youth, 10 to 18 years-of-age (delinquent youth and youth volunteers), and adult teen court volunteers who are primarily judges, and attorneys was analyzed in this study.

To test whether teen court youth possess more experiential than rational processing traits, and to determine whether experiential and cognitive processing traits were more influential in the verdict/sentencing variable, analyses of variance and correlations were run. One-way ANOVA was used to measure whether the categorical variables had a measurable effect on the CEST REI variables.

This study found teen jurors were capable of making cognitive-based decisions, though there were some experiential influences on decision-making. Overall older youth seemed to be more willing to prefer complex problem-solving to prevent boredom and redundancy of the proceedings. Further comparison is required to determine whether the study’s statistical significance was derived from higher cognitive processing traits in some participants compared to other participants.

Keywords: teen court, diversion, youth jurors, decision-making, juvenile justice

Committee Chair/Advisor

Sesha Kethineni

Committee Co-Chair:

Kimberly Chism

Committee Member

Robin Jackson

Committee Member

Logan Yelderman

Publisher

Prairie View A&M University

Rights

Date of Digitization

6/13/2023

Contributing Institution

John B Coleman Library

City of Publication

Prairie View

MIME Type

Application/PDF

Recommended Citation

Harris, C. B. (2023). Cognitive-Experiential Self-Theory: An Analysis Of Teen Court Decision-Making By Youth Jurors And Adult Volunteers. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.pvamu.edu/pvamu-dissertations/16