FIGURE AND GROUND IN THE PERCEPTION OF CRIME SEVERITY

EXISTING GROUP TENSIONS PROVIDE A BACKGROUND AGAINST WHICH ONE MIGHT BOTH JUDGE THE SEVERITY OF A VIOLENT CRIME AND UNDERSTAND THE UNDERLYING MOTIVATION FOR SUCH AN ACT. THIRTY-THREE ISRAELI POLICEMAN WERE PRESENTED WITH A SERIES OF VIGNETTES DESCRIBING INCIDENTS OF AN ASSAULT WITH BODILY HARM. THE PARTICIPANTS WERE ASKED TO RATE THE SEVERITY OF THE ASSAULT AND OF THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ASSAILANT'S MOTIVATION. THE FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF ATTRIBUTIONAL TENDENCIES.