LAUSR

Abstract Despite increasing public concern about corporate crime, socio-demographic variation in perceived seriousness and punitiveness continues to emerge. This study investigates whether differences in opinion about corporate violence originate from adherence to either dispositional or situational blame attribution styles. Four hundred and eight participants completed an online survey that measured their attribution style as well as their perceived seriousness of corporate violence, and punitiveness toward its perpetrators. Results of statistical analyses bring partial support for attribution theory. As expected, subjects more likely to endorse a dispositional attribution style (e.g. Blacks) generally displayed greater perceived seriousness of corporate violence and punitiveness toward its perpetrators. Nevertheless, the hypothesis that right-leaning political and religious ideology was predictive of a situational attribution style received little support. This study provides support for Unnever, Benson and Cullen’s hypothesis that Blacks’ negative attitudes toward corporate crime might be an expression of resistance against a system of white domination (2008). Implications of these findings are discussed.