Bomb threats and offender characteristics in Japan

✍ Scribed by Wataru Zaitsu

• Book ID: 102352801
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 141 KB
• Volume: 7
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1544-4759
• DOI: 10.1002/jip.106

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

This study examined telephone bomb threats and offender characteristics in Japan (N = 101). The results showed that the most frequent offenders were middle‐aged men (mean 42.6 years), motivated by desire for money (46%), resentment (26%), or diversion (24%). In the case of female offenders, most were connected with the targets (83%). Categorical principle component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis differentiated the offenders into three themes. ‘Instrumental’ offenders telephoned the target directly (e.g. a bank or department store), demanding money by public phone. ‘Expressive/affective’ offenders motivated by resentment telephoned from their home and almost never had a criminal record. ‘Expressive/cognitive’ offenders motivated by diversion targeted railways and mostly telephoned emergency numbers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.