NCJ Number
44313
Journal
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 68 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1977) Pages: 454-457
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTS OF EXPERIENCE WITH VIOLENCE ON PERCEPTIONS OF VIOLENCE ARE MEASURED IN A STUDY OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS IN ISRAEL.
Abstract
THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP CONSISTED OF 31 MALE JUVENILES HOUSED IN A CLOSED CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION FOR VIOLENT DELINQUENTS. THE CONTROL GROUP CONTAINED 54 BOYS WHO LIVED IN A DORMITORY AT A VOCATIONAL SCHOOL. THE TWO GROUPS WERE COMPARABLE IN AGE (14 TO 18 YEARS), SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUND (LOW), AND ETHNIC ORIGIN (AFRO-ASIAN). HAVING BEEN TOLD THE PURPOSES OF THE EXPERIMENT, THE SUBJECTS VIEWED AMBIGUOUSLY VIOLENT SCENES -- E.G., A PICTURE OF A MAN HOLDING AN OBJECT THAT COULD BE EITHER A DRILL OR A SUBMACHINE GUN -FLASHED ON A REAR-VIEW SCREEN. THE SUBJECTS WERE ASKED TO DESCRIBE WHAT THEY SAW IN THE SCENES. THE RESPONSES WERE CONVERTED INTO VIOLENCE SCORES, AND THE SCORES WERE COMPARED FOR THE TWO GROUPS. THE RESULTS CORROBORATE EARLIER FINDINGS THAT VIOLENT TENDENCIES OR EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE AFFECT PERCEPTION BY PRODUCING A TENDENCY TO PERCEIVE VIOLENCE. THE DELINQUENT BOYS WERE MORE LIKELY THAN THE SCHOOL BOYS TO ATTRIBUTE VIOLENCE TO SCENES THAT WERE NOT INHERENTLY VIOLENT. THE TECHNIQUES EMPLOYED IN THE STUDY ARE COMPARED WITH THOSE OF EARLIER STUDIES. SUPPORTING TABULAR DATA ARE NOT PRESENTED.