NCJ Number
35685
Journal
American Sociological Review Volume: 41 Issue: 3 Dated: (JUNE 1976) Pages: 442-461
Date Published
1976
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THE PURPOSE OF THIS PAPER IS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED, AXIOMATIC THEORY OF CRIMINAL DETERRENCE.
Abstract
THE EXISTING THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL LITERATURE IS REVIEWED IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY THOSE FACTORS BELIEVED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DETERRENCE OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. BASED ON A SAMPLE OF 174 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT A SMALL, PRIVATE UNIVERSITY, THIS STUDY EVALUATES THE ADDITIVE AND INTERACTION EFFECTS OF SEVERAL INDEPENDENT VARIABLES, THE DEGREE OF MORAL COMMITMENT TO THE LEGAL NORM, THE PERCEIVED THREAT (CERTAINTY AND SEVERITY) OF PUNISHMENT, AND PATTERNS OF DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION ON SELF-REPORTED CRIMINALITY. EMPLOYING A COMPLEX CORRELATIONAL ANALYSIS AND A MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE, THE EXISTENCE AND MAGNITUDE OF THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE VARIABLES STUDIED WERE FOUND TO BE CONTINGENT ON THE LEVEL OF ANALYSIS (INDIVIDUAL VERSUS OFFENSE), THE LEVEL OF PERCEIVED CERTAINTY OF PUNISHMENT, THE LEVEL OF CONFORMITY OR COMMITMENT TO THE LEGAL NORM, THE TYPE OF OFFENSE (E.G., OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON) AND SEX ROLE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)