NCJ Number
207355
Journal
Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 41 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2004 Pages: 433-453
Date Published
November 2004
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This study tested Braithwaite's theory of reintegrative shaming by examining the effects on predatory delinquency of disapproval of delinquent behavior (shaming) and forgiveness of the offender (reintegration) by parents and peers.
Abstract
Braithwaite hypothesizes that disapproval of a person related to their bad behavior (shaming), without being accompanied by forgiveness, stigmatizes the individual as a social outcast. Reintegrative shaming, on the other hand, couples shaming with forgiveness that confirms the offender's value in the community. In testing this theory, the current study obtained data from the first two waves of the National Youth Survey (1977 and 1978). The predatory offenses selected for analysis included various types of theft, vandalism, and assaults on various types of victims. The survey included measures of respondents' perceptions of degrees of disapproval of their behavior by peers and parents, as well as the extent to which they believed parents and friends would continue their support and express confidence in the respondent in times of adversity. Neither parental nor peer reintegrative shaming had the effect of reducing predatory delinquency in either wave when the effects of other important variables were held constant; however, parental forgiveness alone and peer shaming alone had significant negative effects on offenses in both waves. Peer forgiveness had a significant positive effect on predatory offenses in the first wave. The implications of these findings are discussed, and suggestions for future research are offered. 4 tables, 4 notes, and 51 references