Individual determinants of punitive attitudes towards sexual and domestic abuse offenders. Issue 3 (11th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Palasinski, Marek; Shortland, Neil
• Is Part Of: Safer communities. Volume 15:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 125
• Page End: 133
• Publication Date: 2016-07-11
• Subjects: Attitudes -- Sexual abuse -- Personality -- Survey -- Domestic abuse -- Perception of crime; Crime prevention -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 364.40941
• DOI: 10.1108/SC-03-2016-0007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-8043

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to address individual factors predicting punitive attitudes towards sexual and domestic offences and offenders have received little attention. Design/methodology/approach: In Study 1, 137 participants completed a 25-item online questionnaire exploring individual factors hypothesised to predict punitive attitudes towards four sexual crimes: rape, paedophilia, incest and bestiality. In Study 2, 100 participants completed a similar questionnaire exploring individual factors hypothesised to predict punitive attitudes towards male and female emotional, physical and sexual abusers. Findings: The standard multiple regression models of Study 1 found that age (i.e. being older), belief in a just world and gender (i.e. being female) were predictors of harsher punitive attitudes. The models of Study 2 found that the low score on the social dominance scale was the most common predictor. Research limitations/implications: This survey-based project presents a nuanced picture that could be complemented by the inclusion of a wider range of more complex factors and follow-on qualitative studies. Practical implications: The key message from this study is to inform the public on the role of personality factors in developing punitive attitudes. Social implications: It is vital to increase the legislators' and the people' awareness of the factors shaping the public impressions of criminal justice processes and evidence-based treatment effectiveness. Originality/value: This relatively modest paper offers insight of personality factors into people's punitive attitudes shaping actual legislation.