@article{ref1,
title="The Impact of Child Witness Demeanor on Perceived Credibility and Trial Outcome in Sexual Abuse Cases",
journal="Journal of family violence",
year="1998",
author="Regan, Pamela C. and Baker, Sheri J.",
volume="13",
number="2",
pages="187-195",
abstract="We examined how child witness demeanor at the moment of courtroom confrontation with the defendant affects trial outcome and the perceived credibility of the child witness in sexual abuse cases. Phase 1 (descriptive) utilized a free response format to explore the affective and behavioral responses men and women expect a child victim of sexual assault to demonstrate upon first confronting the defendant in the courtroom. The most frequently cited responses included crying, fear, and confusion. Phase 2 (experimental) investigated the impact of presence or absence of one of these expected responses (i.e., crying) upon juror perceptions. Participants who read about a child who cries upon initially confronting the defendant perceived her as more honest, credible, and reliable than a calm child, and they were more likely to convict the defendant.<p />",
language="en",
issn="0885-7482",
doi="10.1023/A:1022845724226",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1022845724226"
}