Open AccessThe Social Mind-set Model potentially explains varying societies’ responses to social and criminal behavior
Author(s) -
Monica K. Miller,
Amber Westbrook
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
oñati socio-legal series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2079-5971
DOI - 10.35295/osls.iisl/0000-0000-0000-1250
Subject(s) - set (abstract data type) , face (sociological concept) , attribution , test (biology) , sociology , politics , preference , variation (astronomy) , social psychology , positive economics , psychology , political science , social science , economics , computer science , law , microeconomics , paleontology , physics , astrophysics , biology , programming language
Many countries face similar social issues, but adopt dramatically different solutions. This variation could be because countries have different social mind-sets (SMS), which explain why a certain policy response is adopted. The Social Mind-set Model (“SMS Model”) is a modest addition to the frameworks of Blumer (1971) and Kingdon (2003), who explain how and when the policy process begins. The SMS Model proposes six factors that influence the SMS of a society, which in turn shapes policy processes described by Blumer and Kingdon. These include society’s: 1) high-profile events and social movements, 2) economic-political-legal situation, 3) cultural beliefs and practices, 4) use of research, 5) preference for justice principles, and 6) attributions for behavior. This cross-cultural analysis uses examples from multiple countries. We conclude with a challenge for researchers to continue this line of research, to test the model, to find more model factors and directly test the model’s assumptions.