Authors
Chad Posick, Michael Rocque, Nicole Rafter
Publication date
2014/1
Journal
International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology
Volume
58
Issue
1
Pages
5-26
Publisher
Sage Publications
Description
Empathy is related, directly or indirectly, to important elements in criminology such as the enactment of harsh penalties for repeat offenders, antisocial behavior, feelings of legitimacy toward the law, and attitudes toward the death penalty. Although empathy is beginning to find its way into criminological discourse, it is still not well understood nor often incorporated into quantitative research. This is likely due to issues regarding the conceptualization and measurement of empathy as well as the lack of measures of empathy incorporated into contemporary data sets. This study discusses the importance of empathy for criminology and uses a set of research examples to exemplify the relationships between empathy and outcomes important to criminology. Empathy emerges as an important predictor of criminal behavior, support for harsh laws, and perceptions of police effectiveness. Future research should incorporate …
Total citations
20142015201620172018201920202021202220232024475714846761
Scholar articles