Punitiveness, fear of crime and social views

Christina M. Zarafonitou. in Kury, H., Shea, E. (Eds.) Punitiveness – worldwide perspectives, Bochum: Universitätsverlag Dr. Brockmeyer, 2011, pp. 269-294.

This paper focuses on different aspects/dimensions of punitiveness and on the differentiation of the factors correlated with them. Specifically, the punitiveness which is expressed as a demand of making penal sanctions harsher appears to be correlated with the insecurity which stems from “traditional” criminality. 

On the other hand, the relationship between the dimension of punitiveness which is reflected on sample’s attitudes towards the purpose of sentencing and insecurity is not proved to be either strong or statistically significant. In this case, punitive attitudes reflect a deeper subjective stance related mostly to the deterioration of the quality of life and society, which engenders a wider sense of anxiety. Therefore, we could argue that the relationship between insecurity and punitiveness is conceptualised differently on the basis of the perception of criminality either as a daily threat or as a wider social problem, indicative of the deterioration of society. In the second case, punitiveness stems from citizens’ wider attitudes towards life or their worldview.