This research aimed at finding if one’s negative reciprocity beliefs and forgivingness trait are predictors of one’s attitude towards mob-justice. The population for the research was members of the New-Weija community. A total of 208 participants were sampled for the studies using the convenience and accidental sampling technique.
Mob justice is a threat to the security of citizens in Ghana, if one is taking into account the tendency of the mob to take justice into their incapable hands. Tracing the history of mob justice in Ghana, and the circumstances under which victims are accused of wrong doing; it can be realized that normally the victims were strangers. They were not known in that particular community; hence they were easily suspected as criminals. This is a threat to all Ghanaians: this is because one may find him/herself in a different vicinity, village or region due to many genuine reasons. It could be due to national service, contracts, personal reasons and many more. Some examples of victims who died in strange towns are captured in the background study.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Aims and Objectives of the study
1.4 Importance of the study
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Theoretical Framework
2.1.1 The Negative Norm of Reciprocity
2.1.2 Belief in a Just World (Lerner, 1965)
2.1.3 Anomie Theory (Baker, 2002)
2.1.4 Forgiveness
2.2 Review of Related Studies
2.2.1 Mob justice and negative reciprocity beliefs
2.2.2 Mob justice and forgivingness
2.2.3 Mob-justice and other factors
2.3 Statement of Hypotheses
2.4 Operational definition of terms
3. METHODOLOGY
3.1 Study Design
3.2 Participants
3.3 Data Collection Procedure
3.4 Measures
3.4.1 Negative reciprocity beliefs
3.4.2 The trait forgivingness
3.4.3 Attitude toward mob justice
3.4.4 Demographics
3.4.5 Ethical Considerations
3.4.6 Data Analysis
4. RESULTS
5. DISCUSSION
5.1 Discussion of findings
5.2 Limitations and directions for future research
5.3 Research Implications
5.4 Recommendations for practice
5.5 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Focus
This study aims to examine whether individual negative reciprocity beliefs and the personality trait of forgivingness serve as predictors for attitudes toward mob justice within the New-Weija community. The research seeks to identify the psychological underpinnings that drive individuals to support or participate in extrajudicial violence.
- Analysis of the relationship between negative reciprocity beliefs and support for mob justice.
- Examination of how the trait of forgivingness influences attitudes toward mob justice.
- Application of quantitative survey methods to measure behavioral tendencies.
- Exploration of how internal psychological factors compare to external factors in predicting social behavior.
- Investigation into the effectiveness of psychological traits in curbing vigilante-style violence.
Excerpt from the Book
Background Study
It was around 10:00 p.m., B. A. had just returned from church and was about to take his supper when his phone rung. His friend needed him right away to get him some medicine. This young man left the food and rushed over to his friend’s place only to meet his untimely death. He had barely reached his destination when shouts of “thief, thief, thief” surrounded him. He had no time to explain himself. He was brutally beaten, and as if that was not enough of a punishment for a crime he did not commit, a block was used to hit his head; smashing it and draining his last breath. He was a young man of 27, who would have some day positively influenced the world, had his life not been cruelly taken away on that fateful Friday night.
The above tragic event occurred three years ago in Aplaku, a suburb of Accra; and this signifies the phenomenon of mob justice.
Mob justice can be defined as “an act of inflicting pain or agony on person(s) who is (are) believed to have violated societal norms or practices by either organized or unorganized group(s) in the quest to maintain or instill justice and security in the society” (Yeboah-Assiamah & Kyeremeh, 2014, p. 4).
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: This chapter provides the context for the phenomenon of mob justice, defining it as a threat to fundamental human rights, and establishes the study's aim to link internal psychological beliefs with these attitudes.
LITERATURE REVIEW: This section details the theoretical foundations including the Negative Norm of Reciprocity, Just World Theory, and Anomie Theory, while reviewing existing studies that connect these psychological constructs to aggression and vigilantism.
METHODOLOGY: This chapter describes the quantitative correlational research design, outlining the participant selection in the New-Weija community, data collection procedures, and the specific psychometric scales utilized to measure the variables.
RESULTS: This section presents the statistical analysis of the collected data, confirming the significant correlations between the trait of forgivingness, negative reciprocity beliefs, and attitudes toward mob justice.
DISCUSSION: This concluding narrative interprets the findings within the framework of psychological theory, discusses the implications for social behavior, suggests limitations, and offers recommendations for future policy and societal education.
Keywords
Mob justice, Negative reciprocity, Forgivingness trait, Vigilantism, Retribution, Social norms, Psychology, Aggression, New-Weija, Human rights, Just World Theory, Anomie theory, Correlational study, Behavioral psychology, Community security.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary objective of this research?
The main goal is to determine if an individual's negative reciprocity beliefs and their forgivingness trait act as predictors for their attitude toward mob justice.
What core psychological theories are explored?
The work utilizes the Negative Norm of Reciprocity, the Just World Theory by Lerner, and Anomie Theory to explain why individuals might support or engage in extrajudicial violence.
What research methodology was employed?
The study used a quantitative approach with a descriptive survey research design, gathering data from 208 participants in the New-Weija community via structured questionnaires.
How is mob justice defined in this study?
It is defined as an act of inflicting pain or agony on individuals believed to have violated societal norms by groups seeking to instill their own version of justice.
What does the literature suggest regarding forgivingness?
The literature indicates that higher levels of trait forgivingness are generally associated with a decreased need for retribution and vengeful rumination.
What are the major thematic fields covered?
The study covers social psychology, vigilantism, ethical considerations in research, and the impact of internal versus external factors on social attitudes.
How does the Negative Norm of Reciprocity correlate with the findings?
The results show a significant positive correlation between negative reciprocity beliefs and support for mob justice, suggesting that those who believe in returning harm for harm are more inclined to accept vigilante violence.
What are the implications for policy and education?
The research implies that curbing mob justice requires societal education in homes, schools, and churches to align cultural norms with constitutional rights and to improve trust in the official legal and police systems.
What are the limitations mentioned regarding the sample?
The research focused specifically on the New-Weija community, meaning the results cannot be generalized to the entire population of Ghana due to the specific socio-cultural dynamics of that area.
Does the study propose a solution to the problem?
Yes, it recommends robust civic education, increased trust in law enforcement through better performance, and the strict enforcement of laws to act as a deterrent for those who might partake in mob justice.
- Citar trabajo
- Winifred Mensah (Autor), 2018, Negative Reciprocity Beliefs and Forgivingness Trait as Predictors of Attitude Towards Mob Justice, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1167709
