Prior research examining punitive attitudes has typically focused on the United States and citizens' support for the death penalty or American "get-tough" criminal policies. Yet, little is known as to how punitive attitudes and their sources vary internationally. Using Germany as a case study, this article expands the scope of…

The paper discusses theories and ideologies that paved the way for the Nazi treatment of the handicapped, national socialist health and racial policies regarding deviance, the use of propaganda to support national socialist policy, legalization of the sterilization of deviants, and the role of special education under national socialism. (JDD)