2639 - THE IMPACT OF POLICE TREATMENT, LACK OF TRUST IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND HAVING A VOICE IN THE LEGAL PROCESS ON REVENGE DESIRE IN VICTIMS OF CRIME

Session: D10S008 - Trust, Culture, and Social Regulation 2
AUTHORS:
Mcgaughey Katie (Queen's University Belfast ~ Belfast ~ United Kingdom) , Mcglinchey Emily (University of Ulster ~ Coleraine ~ United Kingdom) , Hanna Donncha (Queen's University Belfast ~ Belfast ~ United Kingdom) , Armour Cherie (Queen's University Belfast ~ Belfast ~ United Kingdom)
Abstract text:
Criminal victimization is linked to an increased risk of violent offending, often driven by revenge (Heber, 2014). Long-term revenge desire can also harm victims' wellbeing (Stuckless, 1997). To mitigate revenge's harmful effects, researchers have explored the psychosocial and contextual predictors of individual differences in revenge desire. For example, how revenge desire is impacted by criminal justice. While past research has focused on outcome justice, little is known about how procedural justice impacts revenge desire. This study used a cross-sectional survey (N = 236) to examine whether poor treatment by legal personnel and reduced trust in the legal system were associated with greater revenge desire among crime victims. It also investigated whether having a voice in the process reduced revenge desire. ANOVA results showed that victims who experienced the worst treatment and the greatest decline in trust exhibited significantly higher revenge desire. However, having a voice in the process was not significantly related to revenge desire. Both crime type and time since the crime affected revenge desire. These findings suggest that respectful treatment by legal personnel and efforts to build trust in the justice system may help reduce victims' desire for revenge, which could lower violence and support victims' mental health.