Author ORCID Identifier
Clinkinbeard - https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1839-2877
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2009
Publication Title
The Social Science Journal
Volume
46
Issue
1
First Page
111
Last Page
123
Abstract
The AMBER alert system is likely affected by a number of psychological processes, yet remains understudied. The system assumes people will remember Alert information accurately and notify police, but psychological research on related phenomena (e.g., memory, willingness to help) indicates that people may not be able or willing to act in ways the promote the success of the system. In addition, the system is intended to deter child abductions, however, the system could prompt copycat crimes from perpetrators seeking publicity. The system could also cause a precipitation effect in which a perpetrator who sees the Alert could decide to murder the child immediately to avoid capture. Policy recommendations are made based on psychological research and theory, although more research is needed to develop the most effective system possible.
Recommended Citation
Miller, M. K., Griffin, T. W., Clinkinbeard, S. S., & Thomas, R. M. (2009). The psychology of AMBER Alert: Unresolved issues and implications. Social Science Journal 46(1), 111- 123. ** https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2008.12.004
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Comments
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in The Social Science Journal on 2009, available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2008.12.004