Perceptual Deterrence

Author: Dr. Tom Tyler (Yale University)

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This review focuses on research findings about the effectiveness of the perceived risk of sanctions on criminal behavior. The goal of this review is to help policymakers understand the basic conclusions to be drawn from the large empirical literature on whether and when the possibility of sanctions or incentives shapes the frequency with which people violate rules. The key conclusion is that deterrence can and frequently does shape people’s behavior, with perceived certainty of punishment being the most important factor shaping what people do. A variety of background factors shape the strength of this relationship. While deterrence does “work” researchers suggest that it is a costly mechanism to achieve minor gains in compliance; other approaches are as powerful or more powerful and have lower costs.

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