The role of culture in insanity defense verdicts: Do Chinese have a different conceptualization and render different verdicts in the insanity defense cases?

This is the first study that compares Chinese and Caucasians' attitude, perception, and verdict on insanity defense cases. A pilot study was conducted to choose one case scenario that best captured the cultural difference in verdicts and to make sure that the participants (especially Chinese) understand the study materials. In the pilot study, each participant received a package of a biographical sheet, an attitude questionnaire, and four case scenarios, which contains either an in-group or out-group condition. In the study proper, 169 Simon Fraser University undergraduates (78 Caucasians, and 91 Chinese) completed the study package, which included a biographical sheet, an attitude questionnaire and the spousal-abuse case scenario (in-group or out-group condition). Chinese were found to hold more negative attitudes toward the insanity defense; there was, however, no cultural difference in the pattern of verdicts in both in-group and outgroup conditions. Factors that led to their verdict were also explored.