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Reasons for death penalty attitudes among Chinese citizens: Retributive or instrumental?

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  • Jiang, Shanhe
  • Lambert, Eric G.
  • Nathan, Vincent M.

Abstract

There is strong support for the death penalty in China; the reasons behind the support, however, are unclear. Retribution and the instrumental perspectives are two major reasons for pro-death penalty attitudes in the United States. Two survey-based studies partially examined whether these two perspectives are also the reasons behind pro-death penalty attitudes in China. Those studies, however, were limited to college students. Using a survey data of 108 regular citizens from different areas and occupations, this study found that both instrumental and retributive perspectives are predictors of pro-death penalty attitudes, and that the former is stronger than the latter.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiang, Shanhe & Lambert, Eric G. & Nathan, Vincent M., 2009. "Reasons for death penalty attitudes among Chinese citizens: Retributive or instrumental?," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 225-233, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcjust:v:37:y::i:3:p:225-233
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lu, Hong & Zhang, Lening, 2005. "Death penalty in China: The law and the practice," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 367-376.
    2. Payne, Brian K. & Gainey, Randy R. & Triplett, Ruth A. & Danner, Mona J. E., 2004. "What drives punitive beliefs?: Demographic characteristics and justifications for sentencing," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 195-206.
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    1. Jiang, Shanhe & Lambert, Eric G. & Wang, Jin & Saito, Toyoji & Pilot, Rebecca, 2010. "Death penalty views in China, Japan and the U.S.: An empirical comparison," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 38(5), pages 862-869, September.
    2. Behnken, Monic P. & Caudill, Jonathan W. & Berg, Mark T. & Trulson, Chad R. & DeLisi, Matt, 2011. "Marked for Death: An Empirical Criminal Careers Analysis of Death Sentences in a Sample of Convicted Male Homicide Offenders," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 471-478.
    3. Jennings, Wesley G. & Richards, Tara N. & Dwayne Smith, M. & Bjerregaard, Beth & Fogel, Sondra J., 2014. "A Critical Examination of the “White Victim Effect” and Death Penalty Decision-Making from a Propensity Score Matching Approach: The North Carolina Experience," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 42(5), pages 384-398.

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