Social Mechanisms in Norm-relevant Situations: Explanations for Theft by Finding in High-cost, and Low-cost Situation
Abstract
At the centre of this study is the theoretical and empirical analysis of action-formation mechanisms in norm-relevant, situations. Basically two mechanisms are employed, namely action according to a) moral principles and b) the principle of deterrence. Conflicting assumptions concerning the way these mechanisms work are deduced from two theoretical perspectives, the high-cost/low-cost. hypothesis and Situational Action Theory (SAT). While the high-cost/low-cost. hypothesis leads to the assumption that, criminal action is explained by the principle of deterrence in high-cost, situations and, in low-cost, situations, by moral principles, it. follows from SAT that., in high-cost, situations, the principle of deterrence has an effect, only on those persons with weak moral principles, and influences of moral principles are expected in low-cost, situations. Empirical analysis of these hypotheses is conducted with the help of data that, have been collected as part, of a mail survey (n=2383) of a disproportionately layered random sample of residents of an East. German city. Data analyses are carried out. in order to estimate the influences of the theoretically specified predictors simultaneously for high-cost, and low-cost, situations with multiple group comparisons. The study’s results partially support, both theoretical perspectives. They are finally discussed with respect, to theoretical and methodological aspects.
© 2016 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Titelei
- Contents
- Explaining and Understanding by Answering ‘Why’ and ‘How’ Questions: A Programmatic Introduction to the Special Issue Social Mechanisms
- Part I. Explanatory and Analytical: Understanding the Contexts, Core, and Collective Outcomes of Action
- Social Mechanisms as Special Cases of Explanatory Sociology: Notes toward Systemizing and Expanding Mechanism-based Explanation within Sociology
- Social Mechanisms of Corruption: Analytical Sociology and Its Applicability to Corruption Research
- Neighbourhood Effects: Lost in Transition?
- Part II. Bridging the Gap with Quantitative Survey Research
- Social Mechanisms in Norm-relevant Situations: Explanations for Theft by Finding in High-cost, and Low-cost Situation
- Social Mechanisms and Empirical Research in the Field of Sociology of the Family: The Case of Separation and Divorce
- Contextualizing Cognitive Consonance by a Social Mechanisms Explanation: Moderators of Selective Exposure in Media Usage
- Part III. Experiments, Agent-Based Modeling, and Mixed Methods
- The Use of Field Experiments to Study Mechanisms of Discrimination
- Rational Laziness - When Time Is Limited, Supply Abundant, and Decisions Have to Be Made
- How the Mechanism of Dynamic Representation Affects Policy Change and Stability
- Opening the Black Box. How the Study of Social Mechanisms Can Benefit from the Use of Explanatory Mixed Methods
- A Methodological Outlook on Causal Identification and Empirical Methods for the Analysis of Social Mechanism
- Authors
Articles in the same Issue
- Titelei
- Contents
- Explaining and Understanding by Answering ‘Why’ and ‘How’ Questions: A Programmatic Introduction to the Special Issue Social Mechanisms
- Part I. Explanatory and Analytical: Understanding the Contexts, Core, and Collective Outcomes of Action
- Social Mechanisms as Special Cases of Explanatory Sociology: Notes toward Systemizing and Expanding Mechanism-based Explanation within Sociology
- Social Mechanisms of Corruption: Analytical Sociology and Its Applicability to Corruption Research
- Neighbourhood Effects: Lost in Transition?
- Part II. Bridging the Gap with Quantitative Survey Research
- Social Mechanisms in Norm-relevant Situations: Explanations for Theft by Finding in High-cost, and Low-cost Situation
- Social Mechanisms and Empirical Research in the Field of Sociology of the Family: The Case of Separation and Divorce
- Contextualizing Cognitive Consonance by a Social Mechanisms Explanation: Moderators of Selective Exposure in Media Usage
- Part III. Experiments, Agent-Based Modeling, and Mixed Methods
- The Use of Field Experiments to Study Mechanisms of Discrimination
- Rational Laziness - When Time Is Limited, Supply Abundant, and Decisions Have to Be Made
- How the Mechanism of Dynamic Representation Affects Policy Change and Stability
- Opening the Black Box. How the Study of Social Mechanisms Can Benefit from the Use of Explanatory Mixed Methods
- A Methodological Outlook on Causal Identification and Empirical Methods for the Analysis of Social Mechanism
- Authors
