Punishing the Wrongdoers: The Effects of Religiosity on Punitive Attitudes toward Adults and Juveniles

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study examines the relationship between religion and attitudes toward punishment. Numerous studies show that these factors are related, but the relationship is complex. Using data from a 2009 telephone survey of 1,207 U.S. adults, we examine how religiosity affects beliefs about punishment for adults and juveniles. Specifically, this study assesses respondents’ views about the purposes of punishment (i.e., deterrence, concern for victims, and rehabilitation), as well as their support for different punishments for juveniles (i.e., incarceration and rehabilitation). Our findings suggest that religiosity matters in predicting an individual’s punishment philosophy but that the relationship between religiosity and punitiveness is neither linear nor simple. Additionally, the findings presented here suggest that religiosity matters in predicting attitudes toward punishing juveniles but somewhat differently than it matters for predicting adult punishment philosophies. Taken together, the results highlight the importance of considering both religious beliefs and religious behaviors on punishment attitudes toward adults and juveniles. Implications for future research and policy are also discussed.