Do variables indicative of support for capitalism influence perceived seriousness of and punitiveness against elite deviance?

• In Event: Perceptions of Punitiveness, Punishment, and Justice

Abstract

This paper builds upon a previous study that showed a relationship between public knowledge and sentiments about elite deviance (Michel, forthcoming). More specifically, less knowledgeable subjects (including men, those with higher income levels, more politically conservative subjects, Republicans, conservative Protestants, and those who believed white-collar offenders see no wrong in their actions) were often more lenient in their attitudes towards elite deviance, both in terms of perceived seriousness and punitiveness, compared with street crime. Previous research has shown that politically conservative subjects, Republicans and conservative Protestants tend to be more critical of traditional crime than are their more liberal counterparts and to support tougher policies against street offenders (Grasmick et al., 1993; Unnever et al. 2005). Further, these individuals have been found to evince more support for elements of free market economic policies (Gallup Poll, 2012), whose deregulation has been showed to facilitate the commission of white-collar crime (Lynch & Michalowski, 2006). Multivariate regression analyses were therefore run to test the hypothesis that perceived seriousness of and punitiveness against elite deviance vary as a function of socio-demographic characteristics indicative of support for capitalism.

Author

• Cedric Michel, University of Tampa