NCJ Number
235928
Journal
Punishment & Society Volume: 13 Issue: 3 Dated: July 2011 Pages: 354-376
Date Published
July 2011
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study assessed Chinese attitudes toward the death penalty in general or compared Chinese and American attitudes in particular.
Abstract
While a substantial number of studies have examined public opinion on the death penalty in the USA, very little research effort has been devoted to assessing Chinese attitudes toward the death penalty in general or comparing Chinese and American attitudes in particular. Using survey data collected from college students in several universities, this study compares and contrasts Chinese and American attitudes toward the death penalty and identifies factors that have similar or distinctive effects on such attitudes. The results indicate that Chinese students display a higher level of support for capital punishment than their US counterparts. Gender, victimization, and criminal justice-oriented concerns significantly shape both Chinese and American students' attitudes toward the death penalty. Country differences are also identified, with fear of crime influencing Chinese but not American students' support for the death penalty and crime control orientation affecting American but not Chinese support for the ultimate punishment. Implications for policy and future research are discussed. (Published Abstract)