Effect Of Empathy On Death Penalty Support In Relation To The Racial Divide And Gender Gap

• In Event: Attitudes Toward the Death Penalty

Abstract

Public opinion data indicate that the majority of U.S. respondents support the death penalty. Research has consistently indicated, however, that Blacks and females are significantly less likely to support capital punishment than their White and male counterparts. This study proposes that empathy may be a key explanatory correlate of death penalty support and that racial and gender differences in empathy may explain the observed differences. This study uses three forms of empathy measures to test this hypothesis using undergraduate students. The effects of known correlates of death penalty support are controlled for in this study. Policy implications are discussed.

Authors

• Jordyn Rad, University of South Florida

• James Hubbell, University of South Florida

• Brian D. Godcharles, University of South Florida

• Kathleen Heide, University of South Florida

• John Cochran, University of South Florida

• Eldra P. Solomon, Center for Mental Health