You and the Law: Judgments of Harm, Compensation, and Punishment

Complete the questionnaire below to better understand your social views and evaluations.

 

Part 1

Your Point of View :
In the following scenario there are two groups; the Namecian people and the Akaran People. You should take the perspective of a disinterested third party in this scenario.

The following page contains a scenario in which one group of individuals was harmed by another. After reading the story, you will be asked to make judgments, taking into consideration the point of view assigned to you, about the group whose actions led to the harm. This will divide into two parts:

  • First, your personal reaction to the behavior of the group in question;
     
  • Second, what kind of punitive measures, if any, should be taken to rectify the harm.

Assume that there will be no compensation provided by an insurance company. If you assign damages or fines to the group, assume that the group will pay them out of their own funds.

Please try to answer all of the questions.

A Brief History:
In a small Latin country, there are two groups; a non-dominant group of Namecian people and a dominant group of Akaran People. The Akaran People control the vast majority of natural and artificial resources. Due to their lack of access to resources, and through no fault of their own, the Namecian people have suffered greatly. After a long history of discrimination by the Akaran people against the Namecian people, three years ago, the country passed a set of laws designed to eliminate discriminatory practices so that everyone, including the Namecian people, gained protection under the laws.

The Current Case:
The current case involves an incident that occurred 50 years ago in which a manufacturing company, Zipole Manufacturing, owned by members of the Akaran people, the dominant group, simply ejected a group of Namecian People who were occupying a nearby area desired by the company.

Zipole Manufacturing proceeded to build new housing, which it sold at subsidized prices to its dominant ethnic workers. As a result of this ejection, the company has been more profitable.

A group of children and relatives of those who were ejected (most of the residents at the time are now deceased due to natural causes) have now brought suit against Zipole Manufacturing.

Please answer each of the following questions about the story you just read.

Moral Outrage

Question Not at all
outraged 		    Moderately
outraged		     Extremely
outraged
To what degree are you morally outraged by the actions of the Zipole Manufacturing Company against the Namecian People?

Compensation for Damages
The notion here is that there are specific damages caused by the incident, and that these damages can be at least approximately assigned dollar values. For example, a house is burned down. What would it cost to rebuild it as before? A person is injured. What were his hospital costs, lost wages, etc? (Remember, assume that the person, or in this case, the company, has sufficient resources to pay the damages you assign.)

How much money, if any, do you believe that Zipole Manufacturing owes the relatives of the Indigenous People who were harmed? Choose one of the following four options:

Zipole Manufacturing does not owe anything to the relatives of the Namecian People who were harmed.

Zipole Manufacturing does not owe anything to the relatives of the Namecian People who were harmed, but might make a token payment to them to show they are sorry about what happened.

Zipole Manufacturing does owe something to the relatives of the Namecian People, and should pay some percentage of the damages to them.

About what percentage of the damages would you assign Zipole Manufacturing to pay?

Zipole Manufacturing should pay to the relatives of the Namecian People the full cost of all of the damages.

Answer the following questions by selecting the response which most accurately reflects your feelings.

Question Not at all     Somewhat     Very Much
How fair would it be if Zipole Manufacturing was punished?
How just would be if Zipole Manufacturing was punished?
How content would you be if Zipole Manufacturing would be punished?
How unjust would it be if Zipole Manufacturing was acquitted?

 

Part 2

Which of the following objects or statements do you have a positive or negative feeling towards? Select the response which represents the degree of your positive or negative feelings.

Question Very Negative     Neither     Very Positive
Some groups of people are simply not the equals of others.
Increased economic equality.
Some people are just more worthy than others.
Increased social equality.
This country would be better off if we cared less about how equal all people were.
Equality.
Some people are just more deserving than others.
Question Very Negative     Neither     Very Positive
If people were treated more equally we would have fewer problems in this country.
It is not a problem if some people have more of a chance in life than others.
In an ideal world, all nations would be equal.
Some people are just inferior to others.
We should try to treat one another as equals as much as possible. (All humans should be treated equally.)
To get ahead in life, it is sometimes necessary to step on others.
It is important that we treat other countries as equals.

 

Part 3

Before submitting your responses, please answer a few questions about yourself.

About You

What is your age? years

Have you completed this questionnaire before? Yes No

What is your gender? Male Female

What is your ethnicity?

How would you describe your political beliefs?

What is the highest level of formal education that you have completed?

What is/was your major in college (or intended major if you are not in college yet)?