By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court just heard oral arguments seeking to overturn a drug-possession conviction in the case of Commonwealth v. Quinton Williams. The Defense had appealed based on the judge’s dismissal of one potential juror who shared a belief that the criminal justice system is unfair towards young black men. The juror reported […]
Distinguish Between Bias and Belief Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: “Should I Stay, or Should I Go,” ask The Clash. There’s a basic tendency to see our decisions in a binary fashion: There are two choices, and choosing one excludes the other. But for those seeking to understand and improve human decision-making, there are reasons to believe that this is not
Consider More Paths Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: During Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony last Thursday to the Senate Judiciary Committee, at one point I imagined that millions of Americans were doing a double take at her use of the word “hippocampus.” When the witness was asked, as part of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings, what she remembers
Understand the Memory-Encoding Role of Heightened States Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: It was an odd scene at last Thursday’s confirmation hearing. As the Senate Judiciary Committee held a special session to deal with late-breaking sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, the chair brought in a pinch hitter to handle the questioning on behalf of Republican members of the
Skip the Window Dressing (But Open the Window) Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: It is an odd business relationship. As far as the customers go, they’re buying a service that they truly hope they will never need. For the companies, the ideal customer is the one they never meet, the one who pays their premiums, and then luckily avoids the reasons for having
Expect Bias Against the Insurer Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: I like to scan the social science releases from ScienceDaily, and a new one caught my eye entitled, “What is the meaning of life? Ask a conservative.” The science discussed in this release shows that conservatives are more likely than liberals to view their lives as having purpose and meaning. The
Connect to Purpose Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: The witness is somewhat slumped in the chair as the cross-examination bears down on him. As the defendant, he knows he is the focus, the civil law’s version of “the perp.” As he is confronted with each of the plaintiff’s accusations, and each of the expert witness’s criticisms, he is
Witnesses, Don’t Succumb to Shame Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: It is one of the basics emphasized in your first public speaking class: Have a clear transition between your main points. But it is also a rule that many experienced communicators set aside or start taking for granted. As you become more comfortable with your content and your audience, you can fall victim
Think About Transitions Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: For plaintiffs, the topic of monetary damages can be a bit of a mystery. In making the request to a jury, the appropriately named ad damnum, the question is: How much? Obviously, more is better, but common sense and experience probably tell you that there is a point at which higher
Damages: Know Your Anchor Read More »
By Dr. Ken Broda Bahm: The common expression of the recency effect, “Save the best for last,” says that the latter parts of a message will stick in the memory and be ready for later use. The importance of that effect in your trial message has gained some recent and somewhat unexpected support thanks to
Account for Recency in Jury Deliberations Read More »