How fear of crime affects punitive attitudes

Journal article | Zeitschriftenartikel

This article investigates different types of fear of crime as predictors for punitive attitudes. Using data from a Germany-wide representative survey (n = 1272) it examines the reliability and validity of survey instruments through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and uses structural equation modeling (SEM) to explain variations in the level of respondents’ punitive attitudes. The results show that different emotional and cognitive responses to crime have a distinctive effect on the formation of punitive attitudes. These effects vary significantly depending on socio-demographic factors and assumed purposes of punishment. A crucial observation of the study is that men’s fear of crime works in a different way in the formation of punitive attitudes than women’s fear of crime. The perceived locus of control for the crimethreat is a possible explanation for this difference.

Object Details

• ISSN: 1572-9869
• Extent: Seite(n): 461-481
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Status: Veröffentlichungsversion; begutachtet (peer reviewed)

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 23(3)

Classification and Topics

• Subject: Soziologie, Anthropologie ; Psychologie ; Kriminalsoziologie, Rechtssoziologie, Kriminologie ; Sozialpsychologie ; Kriminalität ; Angst ; Punitivität ; Einstellung ; locus of control ; Risiko ; Wahrnehmung ; Emotionalität ; Kognition ; Affektivität ; Messung ; Skalenkonstruktion

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Armborst, Andreas
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Niederlande
• (when): 2017

Further information

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-017-9342-5
• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-53365-3
• Rights: GESIS - Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften. Bibliothek Köln
• Last update: 21.06.2024, 4:26 PM CEST