Applying cognitive and social psychology to the legal system: What we know today and what is next

Numerous cognitive and social psychological theories are applicable to the legal arena, as they may influence identification, perceptions, decision-making, policy and more. The current research topic will elucidate where we are today in our understanding of the intersection between cognitive and social psychological principles and the law. This research topic is dedicated to Dr. Jeremy Blumenthal (Ph.D. in social psychology from Harvard & J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania) who was an avid scholar of the intersection between social-cognitive psychology and the law. Thus, this research topic welcomes all research highlighting the intersection between cognitive and social psychology and the law, but particularly welcomes work in Dr. Blumenthal's areas of work. Before his passing in 2014, Dr. Blumenthal conducted research in the areas of: emotions and the law, victim impact statements, supported decision-making for individuals with intellectual disabilities, perceptions of judges, perceptions of crime, juror decision-making, and property law.

The goal of this research topic is to develop an understanding and initiate an intellectual discussion of what we know about the intersection between cognitive and social psychology and the legal field and where we might go in the future. Of particular interest is the application of cognitive and social theories that have been or could be applied to aid in the understanding of decisions and processes in the U.S. legal system. Thus, the primary aim of the research topic is to update the readers on the impact of social and cognitive theories in legal decisions, particularly looking at victim impact statements, emotions, and changes in perceptions of crime and victims that have occurred in the last decade.

We welcome brief research reports and original research articles and encourage the use of open science practices and registered reports where appropriate. As this research topic is interested in our current understanding of the intersection of cognitive and social psychology, we also welcome review papers and opinion papers. In addition, as this work seeks to determine where we are going in the future, method, hypothesis and theory, and perspective papers would also fit the aims of this research topic. We encourage all submissions to consider future avenues for research as well as practical implications.

Keywords: juries, judges, emotion, victims, law, social psychology, cognitive psychology

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.