The O. J. Simpson Trial: Challenges to Science and Society

Abstract

The 0. J. Simpson murder and civil trials riveted the nation and much of the world formore than two years. Of tremendous scientgc andpublic interest was the gulfin attitudes, perceptions, and reactions to the not guilty verdict at the criminal trial. The collection of articles in this issue of The Journal of Social Issues converged on the idea that race is an inadequate explanatory variable in understanding these dgferences in attitudes, perceptions, and reactions. Instead, race is a marker for a variety of cultural and experiential issues that affect cognitive, affective, and behavioral processes. This concluding article debunks simplistic ideas of race and points to the broader problems of racism and discrimination, criminal injustice, and violence in social relations. The article concludes with suggestions for future research and a call for a broader transformation in societal institutions that affect the quality of social relations.For more than two years, the brutal murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman and the subsequent trial of 0. J. Simpson transfixed our nation and much of the world. Our collective fascination with violence was heightened by the celebrity status of the victims and the accused.The slow chase of the Ford Bronco provided a "flashbulb memory" for the millions of Americans who watched the surreal event on live television. Simpson's criminal trial-quickly and perhaps appropriately dubbed "the trial of the century"-was etched permanently into our individual and collective memories. For the majority of Americans, the trial-particularly its outcome-revealed what is wrong with our criminal justice system. For others, Simpson's acquittal was cause for unrestrained jubilation. 583 0 1997 The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues