Title

The Pragmatic American: Attributions Of Crime And The Hydraulic Relation Hypothesis

Keywords

Attribution theory; Public opinion; Punitiveness

Abstract

Attribution theory argues that a "hydraulic relation" exists between dispositional and situational attribution styles, causing people to endorse one style at the expense of the other. That is, attribution theorists predict that there should be a strong negative relationship between attribution styles. We test this prediction using data collected in Hillsborough County (Tampa), Florida, and two national polls. Our investigation shows that, rather than a bifurcated view of crime causation, Americans manifest a complex attributional style that views crime emerging from multiple sources. We discuss how these findings reveal that the American public tends to be not ideological but pragmatic in its view of crime causation and, ultimately, in the crime control policies it is willing to endorse. © 2010 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

Publication Date

6-1-2010

Publication Title

Justice Quarterly

Volume

27

Issue

3

Number of Pages

431-457

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1080/07418820902855362

Socpus ID

77951664758 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/77951664758

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