TY - JOUR
T1 - Explaining spatial variation in support for capital punishment
T2 - A multilevel analysis
AU - Baumer, Eric P.
AU - Messner, Steven F.
AU - Rosenfeld, Richard
PY - 2003/1
Y1 - 2003/1
N2 - This research examines the effects of social context on support for the death penalty using individual-level data from the 1974-98 General Social Survey (GSS), which have been linked with aggregate-level data on homicide rates and sociodemographic, political, and economic characteristics. Consistent with instrumental, social threat, and constructionist perspectives, this study finds that residents of areas with higher homicide rates, a larger proportion of blacks, and a more conservative political climate are significantly more likely to support the death penalty, net of compositional differences. These results warrant further attention to contextual and individual sources of public support for the death penalty.
AB - This research examines the effects of social context on support for the death penalty using individual-level data from the 1974-98 General Social Survey (GSS), which have been linked with aggregate-level data on homicide rates and sociodemographic, political, and economic characteristics. Consistent with instrumental, social threat, and constructionist perspectives, this study finds that residents of areas with higher homicide rates, a larger proportion of blacks, and a more conservative political climate are significantly more likely to support the death penalty, net of compositional differences. These results warrant further attention to contextual and individual sources of public support for the death penalty.
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U2 - 10.1086/367921
DO - 10.1086/367921
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:0041832346
SN - 0002-9602
VL - 108
SP - 844-875+i
JO - American Journal of Sociology
JF - American Journal of Sociology
IS - 4
ER -
