Racial Differences in Perceived Sanction Threat: Static and Dynamic Hypotheses

This study proposes and tests both static and dynamic hypotheses concerning racial differences in the perceived certainty and severity of sanction threats (i.e., shame, embarrassment, and legal sanctions) for theft, assault, and drunk driving. Pooled data from identical surveys, 1982 and 1992, of random samples of adults living in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma are employed to examine these differences. Our findings reveal small racial differences in perceived sanction threats, which have narrowed over time. The implications of these findings for rational choice theory are discussed.