Why People Obey the Law

Based on a survey conducted in Chicago that sought to identify factors contributing to respect for and compliance with the law and legal authorities, Tyler challenges many of the assumptions about why people obey the law. He rejects the instrumental view that people obey the law because they fear the potential punishment or anticipate certain gains or losses. Tyler supports a normative view that people ultimately are more concerned about a legal system (laws and authorities) that is "fair" rather than one in which they have "won or lost." According to Tyler, the normative elements in the system--fairness, respect, dignity accorded by the police and courts--are more critical in obtaining legal compliance than often imagined. This realization, he argues, should force one to reevaluate how the legal goods and services of society are delivered. ISBN 0-300-04403-8: $30.00.