Virtual Judgments: Testing the Chivalry Hypothesis and Attribution Theory in AI Models

Drawing on the chivalry hypothesis and attribution theory, this study examines whether large language models (LLMs) exhibit gender-based differentiation in sentencing recommendations and stigmatizing evaluations across intimate partner violence, robbery, and financial fraud. Using an experimental vignette design, six AI models evaluated gender-manipulated criminal scenarios, providing sentencing recommendations and stigmatization ratings. Repeated prompts were used to examine both within-model c