This study aimed to discover adolescents' conceptions on the death penalty from two different social contexts. About 220 male adolescents participated of this research, 100 students and 120 adolescents in social exclusion situation. An instrument was used which contained, among others, the following question: "What do you think about the death penalty? Why?" In general, results revealed the predominance of responses against the application of death penalty. When the two adolescent groups were compared, it was discovered that the students were divided in proponents and opponents to the application of death penalty, and the adolescents in exclusion situation demonstrated opposition to this issue. Concerning the arguments in favor or against the death penalty, those used by the participants of this study, it was highlighted that they were similar to scientific and philosophic conceptions and to empirical studies.
death penalty; social contexts; adolescents
