Racial Differences in Perceived Sanction Threat: Static and Dynamic Hypotheses

• NCJ Number: 148470
• Journal: Journal of Research on Crime and Delinquency Volume: 31 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1994) Pages: 210-224
• Author(s): B S Blackwell; R H Grasmick; J K Cochran
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 15 pages
• Grant Number(s): SES-9121856
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation; University of Oklahoma
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study proposes and tests both static and dynamic hypotheses concerning racial differences in the perceived certainty and severity of sanction threats for theft, assault, and drunk driving.

Abstract

The study hypothesizes that there are racial differences in perceived sanction threats in that nonwhites perceive higher threats of legal sanctions but lower threats of informal sanctions than whites. The study also predicts changes over time in racial differences in perceived threats of shame, embarrassment, and legal sanctions. Data were obtained from surveys conducted in Oklahoma City in 1982 and 1992. The results confirm earlier findings that blacks perceive a higher threat of legal sanctions and a lower threat of informal sanctions, particularly the threat of self-imposed shame. However, blacks perceived higher certainties of both legal sanctions and shame in relation to drunk driving offenses. Overall, the data did not support the proposed dynamic hypotheses formulated by the authors. 3 tables and 21 references