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This article extends homicide adaptation theory by investigating signal effects of a murder.
In two experiments (N = 299 and N = 161) participants reported their perceptions of a described person. The first study manipulated the information about the person (including or excluding a single sentence stating that the person has committed a murder) and stimulus person/observer sex match (same vs. opposite sex).
Results suggest that murder functions as a signal of the described person's fitness that enhances observers' evaluations and inclination to interact with the person.
Opposite-sex observers evaluate the murderer's intent more favorably than same-sex observers, but these evaluations of intent produce differential (positive vs. negative) effects between the two groups. The second study replicated the findings and ruled out potential confounds.
We examined perceptions of murderers. Murder enhanced observers’ atti-tudes toward and inclination to interact with a target. These data suggest why high-profiled killers achieve an idol-like status (what we call the homicidol effect).
The homicidol effect extends the HAT to include observers. Our findings suggest that murder functions as a signal of the agent’s fitness, which is a powerful factor in both intrasexual competition and intersexual attraction.
In line with the sexual attribution bias theory, we found that opposite-sex observers evaluated a murderer’s intentions more favorably than same-sex observers. This finding may have important implications in judicial processes,where establishing intent is crucial. We also found that while favorable evalu-ations of the murderer’s intent impact positively on perceptions of the person among opposite-sex observers, same-sex observers may make positive inferences from negative evaluations of the murderer’s intent.
In two experiments (N = 299 and N = 161) participants reported their perceptions of a described person. The first study manipulated the information about the person (including or excluding a single sentence stating that the person has committed a murder) and stimulus person/observer sex match (same vs. opposite sex).
Results suggest that murder functions as a signal of the described person's fitness that enhances observers' evaluations and inclination to interact with the person.
Opposite-sex observers evaluate the murderer's intent more favorably than same-sex observers, but these evaluations of intent produce differential (positive vs. negative) effects between the two groups. The second study replicated the findings and ruled out potential confounds.
We examined perceptions of murderers. Murder enhanced observers’ atti-tudes toward and inclination to interact with a target. These data suggest why high-profiled killers achieve an idol-like status (what we call the homicidol effect).
The homicidol effect extends the HAT to include observers. Our findings suggest that murder functions as a signal of the agent’s fitness, which is a powerful factor in both intrasexual competition and intersexual attraction.
In line with the sexual attribution bias theory, we found that opposite-sex observers evaluated a murderer’s intentions more favorably than same-sex observers. This finding may have important implications in judicial processes,where establishing intent is crucial. We also found that while favorable evalu-ations of the murderer’s intent impact positively on perceptions of the person among opposite-sex observers, same-sex observers may make positive inferences from negative evaluations of the murderer’s intent.
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