How discrimination and perspective-taking influence adolescents' attitudes about justice. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rasmussen, Hannah F.; Ramos, Michelle C.; Han, Sohyun C.; Pettit, Corey; Margolin, Gayla
• Is Part Of: Journal of adolescence. Volume 62(2018)
• Page Start: 70
• Page End: 81
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Punitive justice -- Restorative justice -- Discrimination -- Perspective-taking; Adolescent psychiatry -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychology -- Periodicals; Adolescence -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 305.23505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2017.11.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-1971

Abstract

Abstract: Little is known about factors influencing adolescents' justice attitudes. This online study investigates perspective-taking and experiences with discrimination for their associations with adolescents' beliefs about how justice is best served. Participants included 179 ethnically/racially diverse high school students ( M age = 16.67 years; SD = 1.02). Higher perspective-taking was associated with less punitive and more restorative attitudes. Youth reporting more personal and ethnic/racial discrimination experiences endorsed more restorative justice attitudes. Perspective-taking also moderated the associations between reports of family, personal, and religious discrimination and punitive justice attitudes: adolescents reporting higher discrimination showed a stronger inverse relationship between perspective-taking and punitive attitudes. Findings have implications for school and community programs aiming to implement restorative policies, and for adolescents' civic participation.