The Effect of Attitudes Towards Individuals with Sexual Convictions on Professional and Student Risk Judgments

Harper, Craig A.; Hicks, Rachel A

doi:10.1177/10790632211070799

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 76 publications

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“…Although the current sample differs from both the general population and those working in the criminal justice system, it is unlikely that these differences would meaningfully impact the results. A recent study has found that the relationship between the attitudes toward sexual offenders and risk perception was similar among students and forensic professionals (Harper & Hicks, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Same Score, Different Audience, Different Message: Perceptions of Sex Offense Risk Depend on Static-99R Risk Level and Personality Factors of the Recipient

et al. 2023

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There are multiple ways to report risk scale results. Varela et al. (2014) found that Static-99R results were interpreted differently by prospective jurors based on risk level (high vs low) and an interaction between risk level and risk communication format (categorical, absolute estimate, and risk ratio). We adapted and extended Varela et al.’s (2014) study using updated Static-99R norms, recruiting a population-wide sample ( n = 166), and adding variables assessing the personality factors ‘cognitive motivation’ (i.e., need for cognition) and ‘attitudinal affect’ (i.e., attitudes toward sex offenders, authoritarianism). We found a main effect of risk level and no effect of either communication format or the interaction between the two. Adding the personality variables increased explained variance from 9% to 34%, suggesting risk perception may be more about the personality of the person receiving the information than the information itself. We also found an interaction between attitudes toward sex offenders and risk level. Our results suggest risk perception might be better understood if personality factors are considered, particularly attitudes toward sex offenders. Because biases/personality of the person receiving the information are unknown in real world settings we argue that sharing multiple methods for communicating risk might be best and more inclusive.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Same Score, Different Audience, Different Message: Perceptions of Sex Offense Risk Depend on Static-99R Risk Level and Personality Factors of the Recipient

et al. 2023

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Public Punitiveness Towards Individuals with Sexual Convictions in Italy: A Vignette Study

Veggi

Cipresso

Zara

2023

Eur J Crim Policy Res

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Attitudes towards the penal system, ideology and dark traits

Clemente,

Espinosa,

Cerezo

et al. 2024

Legal Criminol Psychol

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BackgroundThis study examines the relationship between dark personality traits and attitudes towards punishment.AimsConsidering the evidence, we propose two hypotheses to be tested in this study: Of four dark tetrad traits, Machiavellianism will be the most strongly related to punitiveness (deterrence, incapacitation, desertion and moral balance); high scores in conservatism/right‐wing ideology will be positively related to deterrence, incapacitation, desert and moral balance attitudes. People with a liberal/left‐wing ideology will score higher in restorative justice and rehabilitation.Materials and MethodsThe study sample was composed of 1552 participants from Spain and Latin America (Mexico, Colombia and Peru). Participants responded to an adaptation of penal attitudes scale, the Short Dark‐Tetrad Questionnaire and a political ideology scale.ResultsThe results indicated that among demographic characteristics, ideology was the best predictor of penal justice attitudes, whereas Machiavellianism surpassed other dark traits as a predictor.DiscussionNo previous research examined how De Keiser et al. scale of attitudes towards criminal justice relates to dark personality and ideology. This research shows that dark personality predicts punitiveness and how Machiavellianism plays a relevant role. Future research could also combine Big‐Five ‘bright personality’ variables and since Dark Personality variables.ConclusionOf the four dark personality traits, Machiavellianism is the strongest predictor of all punitiveness penal attitudes (deterrence, incapacitation, desertion and moral balance). Conservative/right‐wing ideology is related to punitive attitudes; however, rehabilitation and restorative justice were unrelated to ideology.

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The Effect of Attitudes Towards Individuals with Sexual Convictions on Professional and Student Risk Judgments

Cited by 4 publications

References 76 publications

Same Score, Different Audience, Different Message: Perceptions of Sex Offense Risk Depend on Static-99R Risk Level and Personality Factors of the Recipient

Same Score, Different Audience, Different Message: Perceptions of Sex Offense Risk Depend on Static-99R Risk Level and Personality Factors of the Recipient

Public Punitiveness Towards Individuals with Sexual Convictions in Italy: A Vignette Study

Attitudes towards the penal system, ideology and dark traits

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