Legal cynicism refers to the rejection of legal norms and suspicions about the integrity and legitimacy of legal institutions (Sampson & Bartusch, 1998; Seddig, 2026). This project examines how prevalent such attitudes are in Germany and how they relate to people’s value orientations and delinquent behavior.
The basic idea is that legal cynicism is a multidimensional concept, in which people may become alienated from norms and rules (anomie) while trust in institutions and the perceived legitimacy of those institutions decline (Gifford & Reisig, 2019; Seddig, 2024). In this context, the project investigates how rejection of the law and perceptions of legal institutions, such as whether they are seen as corrupt or legitimate, vary across different social groups and regions. It also explores whether legal cynicism is linked to personal and milieu-specific values and whether it can help explain delinquent behavior (e.g., fraud, bodily harm offenses, and low-level everyday crimes).
Furthermore, the project examines how the concept of legal cynicism can be integrated into current criminological theories, particularly regarding its proximity to concepts of morality (e.g., in the framework of Situational Action Theory). Among other questions, it considers whether legal cynicism influences moral beliefs or interacts with them.
The empirical basis of the project is an online survey using a random sample of the general population in Germany. The data are analyzed using established statistical methods (e.g., latent class analysis, structural equation modeling, and matching techniques), complemented by machine learning approaches.
The project also involves collaboration with researchers in Germany and abroad. These collaborations include both advisory support for the project and a collaborative workshop at the KFN in Hanover. The goal is to produce joint publications and to explore opportunities for future research projects.
The project is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and has a duration of three years.
Gifford, F. E., & Reisig, M. D. (2019). A multidimensional model of legal cynicism. Law and Human Behavior, 43(4), 383–396. https://doi.org/10.1037/lhb0000330
Sampson, R. J., & Bartusch, D. J. (1998). Legal cynicism and (subcultural?) tolerance of deviance: The neighborhood context of racial differences. Law & Society Review, 32(4), 777–804. https://doi.org/10.2307/827739
Seddig, D. (2024). Assessment of the dimensionality and comparability in legal cynicism measurement. Justice Quarterly, 41(7), 976–1001. https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2024.2393197
Seddig, D. (2026). Rechtszynismus: Konzeptionelle Grundlagen und empirische Befundlage. Monatsschrift für Kriminologie und Strafrechtsreform.https://doi.org/10.1515/mks-2025-0041
