While on routine patrol, you notice a car with two people inside parked behind a business that has closed for the evening. You have recognized this to be a high-crime area that has had several burglaries recently. As you pull behind the car, you shine your spotlight on the vehicle and notice the passenger in the front seat leaning down between the seats. You order the individuals out of the car and place them both in handcuffs for protection. After frisking them for weapons, you approach the passenger side of the vehicle and notice a six-pack of beer on the front floorboard. As you move the carton, you find a small container of what appears to be a controlled substance. You conduct a preliminary field test, and the substance tests positive for cocaine. Based on your readings in the text and your research on the Internet, answer the following questions:
Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 400-600 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas:
· Did you have probable cause to seize the cocaine? Why or why not?
· Does the plain view doctrine apply in this case? Why or why not?
· What responsibility, if any, does the driver have as it relates to the seized evidence? Explain.
· In your own words, explain the concept of exigent circumstances.
· In your own words, explain an officer's need to obtain a search warrant to perform a search.
· What is the controlling constitutional issue involved in this scenario, and how does it apply? Explain.
Primary Discussion Response is due by Wednesday (11:59:59pm Central), Peer Responses are due by Sunday (11:59:59pm Central).
Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 300-500 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions with your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas.
In 1962, a classic social psychology experiment was completed by Schachter and Singer. In the study, the researchers injected participants with a drug known to increase physiological arousal (increased heart rate, blood pressure, and energy). Only half of the participants were told about the drug's effects in advance. The participants were then divided into two groups. The first group of participants was placed in a waiting room with nonstudy individuals who acted excitedly happy. The second group of participants was placed in a waiting room with nonstudy individuals who acted irritable. Interestingly, those participants who were not told about the drug's effects beforehand responded to the drug in the same manner as the nonstudy individuals with whom they shared a waiting room. Participants waiting with happy individuals became happy, while participants waiting with irritable individuals became irritated (Schachter & Singer, 1962).
The Schachter and Singer study is believed to be evidence in support of Daryl J. Bem's Self-Perception Theory. Bem's theory suggests that when a person is experiencing vague or unknown internal stimuli (such as the increased heart rate and blood pressure mentioned in the study above), that person will then look outside him- or herself to clues within the environment. These external clues are then used to make an interpretation about how the person should feel or behave (Bem, 1972).
· Describe a situation from your own life or a situation you observed in which you or others responded primarily because of the behaviors, attitudes, or feelings of those around you.
o Describe the situation in detail.
o If you are using an example from your own experience, describe the internal stimuli that you were experiencing.
o Describe the signals that you picked up on from the other people within your environment.
o Looking back now, do you think that your interpretation of the situation could have changed if you had experienced a different environment at that time?
· Can you think of certain situations where this theory is more likely to occur?
· How might you apply your knowledge of this theory to the workplace?