The Psychology of Tort Law

Provides an engaging description of how human psychology influences both the development of tort law and policy and the decisions of litigants, lawyers, judges, and jurors as they navigate the American civil justice system. Their explanations of psychological theory include cutting-edge empirical research and vivid descriptions of classic court cases that lawyers will immediately recognize from law school as well as contemporary cases drawn from todays headlines. For lawyers, the volume offers valuable insights about how judges and jurors are likely to interpret evidence presented at trial. For policymakers, it highlights the conflicts that arise when human intuition diverges from traditional principles of tort law. And it challenges researchers in social psychology and law with a host of unexplored topics to investigate. ~Paula Hannaford-Agor,Director, Center for Jury Studies, National Center for State Courts

This book series is off to a fantastic start with this volume on tort law. . . . [The volume] is expansive but highly engaging and readable. The authors, both psychologists teaching in law schools, maximize the utility of their efforts by bringing normally scattered psychological research findings to bear on core concepts in the law. Those who believe that the law should develop its doctrines with reference to human psychology will be immensely aided in their efforts to achieve that objective by the availability of this comprehensive but very accessible review of existing psychological research findings relevant to tort law. ~Tom R. Tyler,Macklin Fleming Professor of Law and Professor of Psychology, Yale University