ATTITUDES TOWARD REINTEGRATION OF A SEX OFFENDER INTO A RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY: THE ROLES OF MORAL FOUNDATIONS, FORGIVENESS, AND DISGUST

Sex offenders face many challenges when attempting to reintegrate back into the community. Research has shown that longer prison sentences and negative attitudes have hindered support for sex offenders, which is problematic because community support, particularly religious support, is crucial for successful reintegration. This study aims to observe the extent to which Moral Foundations, Forgiveness, and Disgust are related to willingness to reintegrate sex offenders into a religious community. Building on existing work on attitudes toward sex offenders, it asks: How do moral foundations, propensity to forgive, disgust, and religiosity relate to willingness to reintegrate sex offenders above and beyond attitudes toward sex offenders? In this case, disgust is referring to disgust sensitivity, which is the degree to which people experience disgust. Based on a review of the literature on attitudes toward sex offenders and theories of willingness to reintegrate, an online survey was distributed to students at Sam Houston State University. Respondents were randomly divided into two conditions (leadership and non-leadership vignettes) and asked to state whether or not they were willing to reintegrate sex offenders.