Are They Guilty Because of Their Gender?
Pages 36-46
Ronny Shtarkshall, Osmo Kontula, Ilsa S. Lottes, Toivo Aavik and Mario Baras

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2015.04.04

Published: 13 March 2015

Abstract: This paper explores whether sexual acts of varying degrees of misconduct/violence are judged differently depending on the gender of the actor and the subject. It presents pooled data from four countries regarding the actors and subjects involved in a range of sexual activities. In addition, the paper investigates whether the gender of the observer (study participant) influenced the assessment. Our sample consisted of 3416 students from the United States, Israel, Finland, and Estonia. The research instrument contained 8 sexual scenarios where the gender labels of the actors and subjects were manipulated. In several highly revealing cases, it was found that female actors were assessed more benignly compared to male ones. Men were never assessed more benignly. Our research finding is in line with public records showing that women are less frequently perceived and reported as sexual perpetrators. As a consequence, men may find it more difficult to complain of sexual misconduct against them, and sexual misconduct by women against men may have remained uncounted and disregarded in many cases.

Denial of Child Maltreatment Histories among Male Adolescent Offenders
Pages 47-51
Aslı Cennet Yalım and A. Ufuk Sezgin

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2015.04.05

Published: 13 March 2015

Abstract: This paper aims to explore relationship between childhood maltreatment histories and denial of male adolescent offenders who are imprisoned for violent criminal behaviors. The study group consists of 235 male adolescents between the ages of 15 and 18 in İstanbul Bayrampaşa H Type Prison affiliated to the Ministry of Justice. According to the results, one hundred and thirty-seven children have child abuse and neglect (CAN) histories and there is no significant relationship between violent criminal behavior and being exposed to CAN. However, responses of adolescents indicate that they tend to deny CAN histories when being asked direct questions regarding violence compared to indirect questions. Additionally, the results of Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ)’s Minimization/Denial subscale show that 71% of the study group has sufficient scores for possible underreporting of maltreatment. This study can provide guidance to clinicians, who are going to conduct a study on adolescents with maltreatment histories, regarding possible tendency of denial.

Family Structures in Pennsylvania and its Effect on Delinquent Acts: A Data Analysis
Pages 52-58
P.J. Verrecchia and Robyn Arp

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2015.04.06

Published: 13 March 2015

Abstract: This paper examines the effect of family structure on delinquent acts. Specifically, whether living arrangement (with both parents, one parent, etc...) has any impact on the type of delinquent act (person or drug) committed. Data for over 2,700 juveniles who committed a substantiated delinquent act in Pennsylvania were examined for possible effects. Two family structure variables had a significant relationship with drug offenses (one in the negative direction), and one family structure variable was associated with person offenses. Only one non-family structure predictor variable (age) was associated with both offense types.

The Social Roots of Contemporary Prejudice
Pages 28-35
Ben Heylen and Lieven J.R. Pauwels

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2015.04.03

Published: 26 January 2015

Abstract: Background: Evolutionary theory suggests prejudice may be a result of the evolution of human sociality. In this study, we investigate this claim by integrating theoretical insights of evolutionary theory with the well-established social psychological research on prejudice centering on Right Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) and Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) as the main predictors of prejudice.

Method: First, we developed two different signaling scales, probing respondents’ propensity to signal group commitment in a genuine or deceptive way. We administered a questionnaire consisting of the two signaling measures, RWA, SDO and prejudice measures to 1380 students. Analysis of the data was done using structural equation modeling.

Results: Our results indicate that genuine signaling of one’s commitment to the in-group is positively associated with RWA, and that deceptively signaling one’s commitment to the in-group is positively associated with SDO. Both RWA and SDO are positively related to prejudice.

Conclusion: Our study is the first to empirically reveal the pro-social roots of prejudice using classical measurement instruments. The findings give rise to a new array of research questions.

A Multidisciplinary Attempt at Understanding the Violence in Mexico
Pages 16-27
José M. Rábade and Francisco García García

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2015.04.02

Published: 08 January 2015

Abstract: Mexico has been living with a level of violence that was unimaginable only a short time ago. Why and how has Mexico arrived at this dramatic increase in violence? The goal of this study is to reflect on this question through several disciplines. The idea is to collect and contrast sufficient information from the most varied fields of knowledge, including culture and art, as well as social sciences. This is done with the ambition that all these factors will help us to understand the reasons for this terrible and complex Mexican reality.