Are you aware of your own unconscious prejudice?

Are you prejudiced?

What do you really think about people with mental health issues in the criminal justice system?

An online research study, run by Meagan Hanley, an MSc Forensic Psychology Student at Birmingham City University and Dr. Chrisa Pornari, a senior lecturer at Birmingham City University, aims to track the subconscious and conscious attitudes we have about people struggling with their mental health in the criminal justice system.

Often our biases are not conscious. Are you aware of your own unconscious prejudice?

This survey seeks to understand the patterns in our prejudice. In this survey, you react to “positive” or “negative” words while also responding to words related to offences committed by people with a mental illness. Your reaction times will either show a positive or negative unconscious attitude towards prisoners.

The study also gives an opportunity for you to test your conscious attitudes. Through a series of questions, the study evaluates your opinion on a variety of issues. From how ex-prisoners should be treated to how they should be viewed once they have re-entered society, the study offers an expansive assessment of your attitudes regarding mental health in the criminal justice system.

While the survey is open to everyone over 18, it is encouraged that you take part if you have professional experience with mental illness. The study wants to understand the role of professional experience with mental illness and if this has any impact on our attitudes towards ex-prisoners with mental health issues and so your participation is vital.

In order to provide the mental health support people so desperately need in the criminal justice system, we must first understand our own prejudices stopping us from helping them. This study is essential for this.

Learn about your unconscious attitudes by taking part in this 10 minute survey here https://research.sc/participant/login/dynamic/6113C9B2-6D03-43C3-A707-EB69C9CE05AF

This survey has been approved by the Psychology Department Research Ethics Committee and your participation can be withdrawn from up until the 30th of June 2021.