Abstract
According to recent research on laypersons’ punitive attitudes people’s sentencing decisions are primarily driven by a desire
for retribution. The research designed to test this notion, however, can be criticized for suffering from several limitations.
Three online-based studies were conducted with samples from Western Europe with the aim of replicating the findings of Carlsmith
(J Exp Soc Psychol 42:437–451, 2006) in which participants’ punishment motives were inferred from their behavior in a process tracing task. In the present research,
this approach was adopted and modified in order to provide a more conservative test for the notion that people mainly care
about retribution. Although these modifications strongly influenced the overall pattern of results, retribution still was
the most important punishment motive in all three studies.
for retribution. The research designed to test this notion, however, can be criticized for suffering from several limitations.
Three online-based studies were conducted with samples from Western Europe with the aim of replicating the findings of Carlsmith
(J Exp Soc Psychol 42:437–451, 2006) in which participants’ punishment motives were inferred from their behavior in a process tracing task. In the present research,
this approach was adopted and modified in order to provide a more conservative test for the notion that people mainly care
about retribution. Although these modifications strongly influenced the overall pattern of results, retribution still was
the most important punishment motive in all three studies.
- Content Type Journal Article
- DOI 10.1007/s11211-010-0113-4
- Authors
- Livia B. Keller, Department of Psychology, Philipps-University Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, 35032 Marburg, Germany
- Margit E. Oswald, Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Muesmattstr. 45, 3000 Bern 9, Switzerland
- Ingrid Stucki, Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Muesmattstr. 45, 3000 Bern 9, Switzerland
- Mario Gollwitzer, Department of Psychology, Philipps-University Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, 35032 Marburg, Germany
- Journal Social Justice Research
- Online ISSN 1573-6725
- Print ISSN 0885-7466
- Journal Volume Volume 23
- Journal Issue Volume 23, Numbers 2-3