Citation

Herzog S. J. Interpers. Violence 2004; 19(8): 891-900.

Affiliation

Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Haifa, Israel.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0886260504266885

PMID

15231028

Abstract

Crime seriousness studies have consistently shown wide consensus regarding the high perceived seriousness of violent offenses. However, socio-cultural models suggest wide variability between social groups with regard to the seriousness of certain types of violent crime. This is particularly true in the case of male violence against female intimate partners. The present study examines these contradictory propositions in Israel focusing on its two main ethnic groups--Jews and Arabs. In an attitudinal survey, respondents were required to evaluate the seriousness of hypothetical crime scenarios representing a number of criminal offenses including male violence against female intimate partners. As expected, the findings revealed significantly more permissive attitudes to male violence against female intimate partners among Arab respondents than among Jews. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Language: en