POLITICAL VALUES IN A CHANGING RURAL COMMUNITY

This survey data from a rapidly growing rural community reports on the attitudes and expectations residents have toward government. These residents, influenced by their "politics of escapism" from urban living, are oriented to relationships with a few friends and neighbors and a sense of community cooperation. Rather than being primarily interested in better public services, these residents possess a larger view of the values of a rural life style and a willingness to accept less service as its cost.     

The role of stress in the commission of subsequent acts of child abuse and neglect

Data from 1874 clients, who were reported to authorities and treated for abuse and neglect, were examined to determine the role of stress in the commission of subsequent acts. Several case, client, and family characteristics were examined. It was hypothesized that the contribution of stressful events in clients' lives would have a greater effect than all other factors assessed. Results indicated that stress, while contributing to the explanation of subsequent acts of child maltreatment, explains only 9% of the variance over that already explained by other factors. In fact, stressful events, along with seriousness of initial assault, contributed significantly to the explanation of the commission of subsequent acts of child maltreatment.     

To the beat of a different drummer: Ideological nonconformity and issue scales

This study examines and tests assumptions about the dimensionality of issue scales commonly used in attitude research. Researchers assume that a respondent designation of his or her position on an issue represents an ideal point on a single-peaked preference scale. However, in comparing actual respondent preference orderings with the liberal-conservative ordering assumed by the scale, it is found that many respondents do not conform to the assumption. Furthermore, in a sample of relatively well-educated respondents, those who do not conform to the dominant scaling dimension are found to be as interested in politics, as efficacious, and as predictable in their voting as those who do conform. However, nonconformists do appear to be somewhat more internally directed and more dogmatic than conformist respondents.     

Exploring the social and emotional context of childhood animal cruelty and its potential link to adult human violence

ABSTRACT

Those who commit acts of animal cruelty may do so differently based upon how they individually experience such acts. These experiences may impact the link that exists between childhood animal abuse and later interpersonal violence. Limited research exists that examines how social and emotional factors such as being upset after committing animal cruelty may impact the progression from early acts of animal cruelty to later acts of adult violence against humans. Based on responses from 180 prison inmates in a Southern state, the current study examined the effects of onset and frequency of animal cruelty, covertness of animal cruelty, the commission of animal cruelty alone or in a group, and being upset after committing animal cruelty. Inmates who committed recurrent acts of childhood animal cruelty were more likely to commit recurrent acts of adult interpersonal violence.