Exploring Punitive Attitudes Toward Social Distancing Deviance in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Two-Year Experiment

• In Event: Assessing COVID-19 Period Effects on Public Punitiveness

Abstract

Social distancing violations comprise a new form of deviance that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research is lacking on how Americans perceive new offenses in times of public health crises (i.e., violation of social distancing ordinances) and whether their reactions depend on the type of offender. Using two national-level, internet surveys administered one year apart—March 2020 (n = 995) and March 2021 (n = 1,030), this study employs experimental vignettes to measure sanction preferences for social distancing deviance by an individual and a business-owner offender. We also explore what factors explain COVID-related punitiveness and whether these factors change across time. Results suggest that punitive attitudes were associated with intuitions of justice as well as expressive concerns. Of note, ideological beliefs took on a greater influence after one year into the pandemic. Implications are discussed.

Authors

• Heejin Lee, Sam Houston State University

• Justin Pickett, SUNY Albany

• Amanda Graham, Georgia Southern University

• Francis T. Cullen, University of Cincinnati

• Cheryl Lero Jonson, Xavier University

• Murat Haner, Arizona State University

• Melissa M. Sloan, University of South Florida