Citation

Mancini C, Pickett JT. J. Interpers. Violence 2016; 31(2): 257-281.

Affiliation

State University of New York at Albany, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0886260514555373

PMID

25381282

Abstract

Public opinion has played a critical role in the development of sex crime laws. However, little scholarly work has focused directly on the origins of negative attitudes toward sex offenders. We address this research gap by developing and testing a theoretical account of such views. Drawing on recent national survey data, we examine the extent to which typifications about sexual victims and offenders-believing sex crime typically affects children and female victims and is committed by strangers-explain beliefs about the reformability of sex offenders, harm inflicted on victims, and the causes of offending.

RESULTS indicate that judging children to be typical targets of sex crimes is a key determinant of public views. We discuss the implications of our findings.

Language: en