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THE PREVENTIVE EFFECTS OF THE PERCEIVED RISK OF ARREST: TESTING AN EXPANDED CONCEPTION OF DETERRENCE
Author(s) -
NAGIN DANIEL S.,
PATERNOSTER RAYMOND
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
criminology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.467
H-Index - 139
eISSN - 1745-9125
pISSN - 0011-1384
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-9125.1991.tb01080.x
Subject(s) - sanctions , argument (complex analysis) , deterrence (psychology) , doctrine , deterrence theory , criminology , perception , psychology , law and economics , test (biology) , positive economics , political science , social psychology , economics , law , medicine , paleontology , neuroscience , biology
In a reexamination of the perceptual deterrence literature. Williams and Hawkins (1986) have suggested that previous tests of the deterrence doctrine have been guided by too narrow a conception of the deterrence process. In essence, they argue that the preventive mechanisms are triggered by formal sanctions should be included in the accounting of the deterrent effect of formal sanctions. In this paper, we test this expanded conception of deterrence. We find little evidence to support the argument of Williams and Hawkins. Alternative interpretations of the results and future directions for research are discussed.