Shame

Shame is a powerful emotion. Some have suggested that restorative justice allows offenders to experience and then remove a sense of shame for their behaviour. These articles discuss the usefulness or destructiveness of including shame as a part of restorative justice theory and practice.

. Delineating the scope of Reintegrative Shaming theory: An explanation of contingencies using Russian data.: Drawing on predictions derived from self-control theory, general strain theory, and deterrence theory, we attempt to improve Braithwaite’s shaming theory by identifying conditions under which its causal process might be more effective in explaining misbehavior. Using data elicited from 224 Russian respondents, we put the elaborated version of shaming theory to the test in its. In line with previous research, study findings indicate that, contrary to the theory’s predictions, being reintegratively shamed is positively associated with projected deviance. While some of the hypothesized contingencies seem to condition the effects of shaming on projected deviance, none of our findings confirm original hypotheses. These results, in conjunction with the accumulated body of research, suggest that reintegrative shaming theory may be in need of further revision. (author's abstract)
. Reintegrative Shaming Theory, moral emotions and bullying.: This article investigates the usefulness of Reintegrative Shaming Theory (RST) in explaining the bullying of siblings in families and peers in schools. Questionnaires were completed by 182 children aged 11-12 years in ten primary schools in Nicosia, Cyprus, about sibling and peer bullying. A vignette-based methodology was used to investigate children's expectations of the type of shaming their parents would offer in response to their possible wrong doing. Children were also asked questions about the emotions they would have felt (i.e. shame, remorse, guilt or anger) if they were in the position of the child in the vignette. The level of bonding toward each parent was also examined. In agreement with the theory, a path analysis showed that mother bonding influenced children's expectations of the type of shaming offered by parents. Disintegrative shaming (i.e. shaming offered in a stigmatizing or rejecting way) had a direct effect on the way children managed their shame. Shame management directly influenced sibling and peer bullying. Father bonding had no direct or indirect effects in the model. Against the theory, reintegrative shaming (i.e. shaming offered in the context of approving the wrongdoer while rejecting the wrongdoing) did not have a direct effect on shame management. Beyond the postulates of RST, mother bonding - a plausible indicator of family functioning - had a direct effect on sibling and peer bullying. Mother bonding had a stronger effect for boys than for girls. It is concluded that RST is useful in explaining the link between family factors and bullying, and that RST has cross-cultural applicability. (author's abstract)
Barnard, Jayne W. Reintegrative Shaming in Corporate Sentencing: The Organizational Sentencing Guidelines were intended to be an organic document to be altered as experience suggests additional ways in which sentencing procedures could be more effective in minimizing criminal activities.201 This Article proposes an amendment to the Guidelines, designed (1) to increase the likelihood of corporate self-reporting of crimes and cooperation with investigators in determining the scope and extent of a corporation’s crime, and (2) to increase the likelihood that corporations— especially public ones—will be more attentive to legal compliance values, and more assiduous in establishing internal compliance programs. Both of these objectives are salutary and achievable. (excerpt)
Benson, M.L. "Emotions and Adjudication: Status Degradation among White-Collar Criminals.": A study uses interview data to explore the emotional experiences of 30 white-collar offenders. Adjudication generated anger and rage, as well as shame and embarrassment, in the respondents. Both anger and rage have potentially dysfunctional effects in that they undermine commitment to the legitimacy of the law. Following Braithwaite (1989), it is argued that the U.S. justice system, which is based on "disintegrative" rather than "reintegrative" shaming, is counterproductive.
Botchkovar, Ekaterina V. and Tittle, Charles R.. Crime, Shame, and Reintegration in Russia: The article begins with an extensive examination of shaming theory and prior research relating to it. Braithwaite’s shaming theory posits that reintegrative shaming inhibits future misbehavior and that those who participate in the shaming process are less likely to misbehave in the first place. Based on this examination, the authors hypothesize that: 1) participation in shaming is negatively associated with misbehavior; 2) having been reintegratively shamed is negatively associated with misbehavior; and 3) stigmatizing experience is positively associated with future misconduct. Four subsidiary hypotheses were also examined. Data were collected from interviews conducted in July and August 2002 with 224 Russian citizens, of which 70 percent were women. Dependent variables measured were the chance of personally committing one of four specific offenses; independent variables were participating in gossip, being reintegratively shamed, and being disintegratively shamed. Analyses of the data resulted in mixed evidence about shaming theory. The results suggest that contrary to the contention that reintegrative shaming would have a positive effect while disintegrative shaming would have a negative effect, the results provide evidence that shaming of any kind, whether reintegrative or disintegrative, may have negative consequences. The findings also show that participating in gossip is unrelated to future deviance and that guilt or fear of losing respect for others for potential misbehavior do not seem to be related to past shaming experiences nor do they mediate supposed relationships between past shaming experiences and misconduct. These findings, along with previous research, suggest that shaming theory may need further refinement. Study limitations are discussed. Abstract courtesy of the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, www.ncjrs.gov.
Braithwaite, John. Rape, Shame and Pride. Address to Stockholm Criminology Symposium, 16 June 2006.: A proposition of the theory of reintegrative shaming is that a reason some societies have lower rates of rape is that rape is unthinkable to most men in those societies. This presentation shows how war interrupts the unthinkableness of rape. Bougainville society seems to have had a low level of rape until its war of the 1980s and 1990s. A single rape was one of the important sparks that lit its civil war. It caused perhaps over 5% of the population to lose their lives and perhaps over a third to be displaced from their homes. As in most wars, rape became common in Bougainville. A theory of why war causes epidemics of rape helps criminologists understand rape better. It can also help international relations scholars to see that the bigger problem caused by armed conflict today may be crime rather than battle deaths. Rape in peace and in war is interpreted according to Eliza Ahmed’s theory of shame management and pride management. Ahmed’s work is seen as an important advance in evidence- based criminological theory. A deficiency of reintegrative shaming theory is that it neglects pride as the flip side of shame as an emotion. Shame displacement may be important to the explanation of rape; yet narcissistic pride may be more important. In war we see more vividly the social dynamics of how shame displacement and narcissistic pride allow both rape and the onset of war itself.Bougainville helps us to ponder how historically sustained, deep and broad restorative justice processes may be part of what is needed to return a society to peace and to low levels of rape.(author's abstract)
Da-Yu Kao and Shiuh-Jeng Wang and Frank Fu-Yuan Huang. Persistence and desistance: examining the impact of re-integrative shaming to ethics in Taiwan juvenile hackers.: The Internet community has been addressing the unethical behavior of juvenile delinquents for years. Nevertheless, the concepts of hacker shame and ethics have received little empirical study from a theoretical perspective in the field of cyber criminology. Braithwaite's re-integrative Shaming Theory posits that it can restrain individuals from committing future offenses, and that those who participate in this shaming process are less likely to consider breaking the law in the first place. Among the abundance of criminological theories, the re-integrative Shaming Theory may be the most suitable theory to restrain hacker activities. This study focuses on the working relationship between nine juvenile delinquents and the shaming mechanism applied to them. However, applying this approach to reduce recidivism among computer hackers requires a great deal of time and effort. It is proposed that the state of shame or remorse is associated with the compounded affective processes of hacker ethics. The proposed solution creates a code of ethics for hackers, distinguishes right from wrong, and ensures a greater success for Braithwaite's re-integrative shaming methods. This paper discusses the problems and solutions related to the Shaming Theory, as well as their usefulness in the context of community-based restorative justice. It is argued that re-integrative shaming, without appropriate consideration for the offender's personal code of ethics, is insufficient when handling hacking offenses committed by juveniles. Our main concern is to find out how to help or encourage the offender's reintegration and re-entering into the community, and how s/he can avoid failure. It is hoped that our proposed strategy can prevent future offending behaviors by these juveniles. Implications drawn from the findings are discussed, and suggestions are offered to ensure the success of this theory when applied to juvenile hackers. (author's abstract)
Goold, Benjamin. Restorative Cautioning, Theories of Reintegration, and the Influence of Japanese Notions of Shame: Certainly one of the most significant developments in the treatment of young offenders in Britain over the past decade has been the move away from punitive forms of cautioning towards a new type of informal disposal known as "restorative cautioning". Although there is now a considerable body of academic and professional literature that examines the theory and practice of restorative cautioning, recently little has been written about the intellectual and cultural origins of this new approach to punishment and dispute resolution. This article explains some of the central notions of restorative justice, drawing particular attention to the influence of Japanese notions of shame and community on cautioning practices in Britain and elsewhere. (excerpt)
Harris, Nathan. Reintegrative Shaming, Shame, and Criminal Justice.: This study tested the implication of reintegrative shaming theory (RST) (Braithwaite, 1989) that social disapproval (shaming) has an effect on the emotions that offenders feel. Interviews were conducted with 720 participants who had recently attended a court case or family group conference in the Australian Capital Territory, having been apprehended for driving while over the legal alcohol limit. Analyses show that shame-related emotions were predicted by perceptions of social disapproval, but that the relationship was more complex than expected. Differences between the shame-related emotions may have implications for theory. Comparisons between the court cases and family group conferences were consistent with expectations that restorative justice interventions would be more reintegrative, but also showed that they were not perceived as less stigmatizing. (author's abstract)
Hendrix, Gina Marie. A Test of Reintegrative Shaming Theory's Concepts of Interdependence and Expressed Shame in Restorative Justice Conferencing.: This thesis examines Braithwaite's (1989) reintegrative shaming theory's concepts of interdependence and expressed shame. Interdependence is operationalized through an adaptation of Hirschi's (1969) social control theory, specifically attachment to mother, commitment to conventional institutions of church and school, and involvement in conventional activities. Data from the Indianapolis Restorative Justice Experiment are used. Bivariate analysis was employed to examine the relationship between diversion group assignment and levels of interdependency and expressed shame. Multivariate analysis was employed to examine the relationship of interdependency and expressed shame with re-offending. Results showed youths that completed restorative justice conferencing had higher levels of interdependency and expressed shame than control youths, but interdependency and expressed shame were not predictive of re-offending. Limitations and implications are discussed. Author's abstract.
John Braithwaite video introduction to restorative justice: John Braithwaite is a leader in restorative justice (and in many other fields). He teaches at Australian National University which has now posted an 18 minute video in which he explains the basic theories and applications of restorative justice. It is well done, and is presented in segments, which means it can be used in whole or in part.
Losoncz, Ibolya and Tyson, Graham. Parental Shaming and Adolescent Delinquency: A Partial Test of Reintegrative Shaming Theory.: The past decade has seen an increase in the application of Braithwaite's reintegrative shaming theory as a framework for restorative justice programs. However, to date the theory has received little empirical testing of the theory by exploring the appropriateness of the causal model put forward by Braithwaite. One-hundred- and- seventy Year 9 and Year 10 high school students from two government high schools in the Australian Capital Territory completed a survey capturing projected delinquency, delinquent peers and family processes. Principlan component analysis found an overlap between aspects of shaming with reintegration and stigmatisation. Furthermore, not all facets of reintegration and stigmatisation were found to be discrete concepts. Results from subsequent structural equation modelling were largely supportive of RST, particularly the theory's emphasis on the harmful effects of stigmatisation and the beneficial effects of reintegration. However, shaming, as defined in the theory, may not affect predatory crime in the way it is predicted by RST. (author's abstract)
Lu, Catherine. Shame, Guilt and Reconciliation after War.: How do experiences of shame and guilt shape or reflect the ways in which the vanquished are reconciled (or not) to the new world order established by the victors? Shame and guilt are universal experiences in the emotional landscape of post-war politics, albeit for different reasons and with radically different political effects. An examination of Germany after 1918 and of Japan after 1945 reveals that experiences of shame and guilt may be pivotal for creating conditions of possibility for reconciliation marked by political and moral transformation. This transformative potential of shame and guilt, however, is a double-edged sword. In threatening old identities, values and beliefs, experiences of shame and guilt may provoke defensive, reactionary and violent political responses, and thus may precipitate hideous rather than salutary transformations. Political leadership and political culture are crucial factors in shaping the kind of reconciliation – reactionary or transformative – as well as the specific nature of transformations that experiences of shame and guilt may motivate the vanquished to pursue. (author's abstract)
Maxwell, Gabrielle and Morris, Allison. What is the Place of Shame in Restorative Justice?: As Gabrielle Maxwell and Allison Morris observe, John Braithwaite’s theory of reintegrative shaming (1989) has been quite influential in providing a basis for restorative justice in general and for some forms of conferencing in particular. (Braithwaite himself linked shaming with family group conferences in New Zealand and traditional Maori conflict resolution processes.) Following this, Masters (1998) argued that shame is a critical component in the development of effective restorative justice. Maxwell and Morris dissent. They do not link shaming with family group conferences in New Zealand, nor do they see shaming as an essential part of restorative justice. Hence, in this essay Maxwell and Morris question these presumed links between shaming and effective crime control at both theoretical and empirical levels.
Menzel, Kenneth. Circle Sentencing as a Shaming Sanction: At its heart, circle sentencing is a form of shaming. In the presence of the victim of her crime, her peers, and the community at large, an offender must own up to the wrongful conduct in which she engaged. By personally publicizing her criminal act, an offender can expect to feel markedly embarrassed, decidedly shaken, and wholeheartedly regretful. Thus, instilling shame upon the offender is a major purpose of circle sentencing. At the same time, however, the shame instilled upon the offender lasts no longer than the length of that particular circle sentencing episode. By virtue of the personalized nature of the sentence, the legitimacy of the sentence giver, and the atmosphere conducive to apology, the offender is reincorporated back into the community without any lingering badge of dishonor. Simply put, the shame placed upon the offender, while great, is also finite and is ultimately lifted in favor of community reintegration.
Mills, Linda G.. Shame and intimate abuse: The critical missing link between cause and cure.: Intimate abuse scholars have not, in general, recognized how central shame is in motivating perpetrators toward violence and in overshadowing a victim's experience of abuse. By teasing out what I call the shameful experience, victim and offender may gain new insight into the origins of violence. Acknowledging that shame is entwined both in the precipitation and reaction to violence provides a critical missing link in understanding the phenomenon of intimate abuse. Developing new mechanisms for identifying and addressing shame may be key to interrupting violence, as well as preventing its transmission to the next generation of victims and offenders. (author's abstract)
Morris, Allison. Revisiting reintegrative shaming: In this article, Morris looks again at John Braithwaite’s theory of reintegrative shaming.
Murphy, Kristina and Harris, Nathan. Shaming, Shame and Recidivism: A Test of Reintegrative Shaming Theory in the White-Collar Crime Context.: Despite the popularity of reintegrative shaming theory in the field of criminology, only a small number of studies purporting to test it have been published to date. The aim of the present study, therefore, is to provide an empirical test of Braithwaite's (1989; Braithwaite and Braithwaite 2001) theory of reintegrative shaming in the white-collar crime context. The data on which the study is based came from survey data collected from a group of 652 tax offenders. Consistent with predictions, it was found that feelings of reintegration/stigmatization experienced during an enforcement event were related to reoffending behaviour. Those taxpayers who felt that their enforcement experience had been reintegrative in nature were less likely to report having evaded their taxes two years later. Consistent with Braithwaite and Braithwaite's (2001) hypotheses, shame-related emotions were also found to partially mediate the effect of reintegration on subsequent offending behaviour. Implications for the effective regulation of white-collar offenders are discussed. (author's abstract)
Pynchon, Victoria.. Shame by Any Other Name: Lessons for Restorative Justice From the Principles, Traditions and Practices of Alcoholics Anonymous: Restorative Justice theorists and practitioners assert that censuring the offender’s criminal behavior and its deleterious effect on the victim without stigmatizing him will engender empathy for the victim and accountability in the offender, thus reducing recidivism. Whether participation in a single VOM can accomplish such far-reaching foals has been the subject of much debate in restorative justice circles. This paper suggests that a thorough understanding of – together with shame-reducing VOM practices and post-offender shame-reduction ‘recovery’ programs – are absolutely necessary if restorative justice is to achieve its rehabilitative goals. (excerpt)
Shame and restorative justice: Have you ever embarrassed someone intentionally? If so, why did you do it? Maybe it was an accident or a joke taken too far. Maybe you wanted to get back at them for something wrong they had done to you. If you’ve ever done this, you’re not alone, for the criminal justice system also uses embarrassment and shame to accomplish its goals.

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Navigation Lecture Hall Introduction to Restorative Justice Restorative Justice around the World Educational Opportunities Restorative Justice Theory Defining Restorative Justice Distinguishing Restorative Justice Conceptual Issues and Justifications The Potential of Restorative Justice Shame Restorative Dialogue Limitations to Restorative Justice Retribution and Restoration Restorative Justice and Aboriginal Traditions Theory Articles -- Full List Making Amends Restorative Justice Course Syllabi Book Reviews Video Reviews Real People, Real Stories Practice Manuals Evaluation Research Evaluation Tools Role Plays Using Restorative Practices	Info Shame Shame is a powerful emotion. Some have suggested that restorative justice allows offenders to experience and then remove a sense of shame for their behaviour. These articles discuss the usefulness or destructiveness of including shame as a part of restorative justice theory and practice. . Delineating the scope of Reintegrative Shaming theory: An explanation of contingencies using Russian data. Drawing on predictions derived from self-control theory, general strain theory, and deterrence theory, we attempt to improve Braithwaite’s shaming theory by identifying conditions under which its causal process might be more effective in explaining misbehavior. Using data elicited from 224 Russian respondents, we put the elaborated version of shaming theory to the test in its. In line with previous research, study findings indicate that, contrary to the theory’s predictions, being reintegratively shamed is positively associated with projected deviance. While some of the hypothesized contingencies seem to condition the effects of shaming on projected deviance, none of our findings confirm original hypotheses. These results, in conjunction with the accumulated body of research, suggest that reintegrative shaming theory may be in need of further revision. (author's abstract) . Reintegrative Shaming Theory, moral emotions and bullying. This article investigates the usefulness of Reintegrative Shaming Theory (RST) in explaining the bullying of siblings in families and peers in schools. Questionnaires were completed by 182 children aged 11-12 years in ten primary schools in Nicosia, Cyprus, about sibling and peer bullying. A vignette-based methodology was used to investigate children's expectations of the type of shaming their parents would offer in response to their possible wrong doing. Children were also asked questions about the emotions they would have felt (i.e. shame, remorse, guilt or anger) if they were in the position of the child in the vignette. The level of bonding toward each parent was also examined. In agreement with the theory, a path analysis showed that mother bonding influenced children's expectations of the type of shaming offered by parents. Disintegrative shaming (i.e. shaming offered in a stigmatizing or rejecting way) had a direct effect on the way children managed their shame. Shame management directly influenced sibling and peer bullying. Father bonding had no direct or indirect effects in the model. Against the theory, reintegrative shaming (i.e. shaming offered in the context of approving the wrongdoer while rejecting the wrongdoing) did not have a direct effect on shame management. Beyond the postulates of RST, mother bonding - a plausible indicator of family functioning - had a direct effect on sibling and peer bullying. Mother bonding had a stronger effect for boys than for girls. It is concluded that RST is useful in explaining the link between family factors and bullying, and that RST has cross-cultural applicability. (author's abstract) Barnard, Jayne W. Reintegrative Shaming in Corporate Sentencing The Organizational Sentencing Guidelines were intended to be an organic document to be altered as experience suggests additional ways in which sentencing procedures could be more effective in minimizing criminal activities.201 This Article proposes an amendment to the Guidelines, designed (1) to increase the likelihood of corporate self-reporting of crimes and cooperation with investigators in determining the scope and extent of a corporation’s crime, and (2) to increase the likelihood that corporations— especially public ones—will be more attentive to legal compliance values, and more assiduous in establishing internal compliance programs. Both of these objectives are salutary and achievable. (excerpt) Benson, M.L. "Emotions and Adjudication: Status Degradation among White-Collar Criminals." A study uses interview data to explore the emotional experiences of 30 white-collar offenders. Adjudication generated anger and rage, as well as shame and embarrassment, in the respondents. Both anger and rage have potentially dysfunctional effects in that they undermine commitment to the legitimacy of the law. Following Braithwaite (1989), it is argued that the U.S. justice system, which is based on "disintegrative" rather than "reintegrative" shaming, is counterproductive. Botchkovar, Ekaterina V. and Tittle, Charles R.. Crime, Shame, and Reintegration in Russia The article begins with an extensive examination of shaming theory and prior research relating to it. Braithwaite’s shaming theory posits that reintegrative shaming inhibits future misbehavior and that those who participate in the shaming process are less likely to misbehave in the first place. Based on this examination, the authors hypothesize that: 1) participation in shaming is negatively associated with misbehavior; 2) having been reintegratively shamed is negatively associated with misbehavior; and 3) stigmatizing experience is positively associated with future misconduct. Four subsidiary hypotheses were also examined. Data were collected from interviews conducted in July and August 2002 with 224 Russian citizens, of which 70 percent were women. Dependent variables measured were the chance of personally committing one of four specific offenses; independent variables were participating in gossip, being reintegratively shamed, and being disintegratively shamed. Analyses of the data resulted in mixed evidence about shaming theory. The results suggest that contrary to the contention that reintegrative shaming would have a positive effect while disintegrative shaming would have a negative effect, the results provide evidence that shaming of any kind, whether reintegrative or disintegrative, may have negative consequences. The findings also show that participating in gossip is unrelated to future deviance and that guilt or fear of losing respect for others for potential misbehavior do not seem to be related to past shaming experiences nor do they mediate supposed relationships between past shaming experiences and misconduct. These findings, along with previous research, suggest that shaming theory may need further refinement. Study limitations are discussed. Abstract courtesy of the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, www.ncjrs.gov. Braithwaite, John. Rape, Shame and Pride. Address to Stockholm Criminology Symposium, 16 June 2006. A proposition of the theory of reintegrative shaming is that a reason some societies have lower rates of rape is that rape is unthinkable to most men in those societies. This presentation shows how war interrupts the unthinkableness of rape. Bougainville society seems to have had a low level of rape until its war of the 1980s and 1990s. A single rape was one of the important sparks that lit its civil war. It caused perhaps over 5% of the population to lose their lives and perhaps over a third to be displaced from their homes. As in most wars, rape became common in Bougainville. A theory of why war causes epidemics of rape helps criminologists understand rape better. It can also help international relations scholars to see that the bigger problem caused by armed conflict today may be crime rather than battle deaths. Rape in peace and in war is interpreted according to Eliza Ahmed’s theory of shame management and pride management. Ahmed’s work is seen as an important advance in evidence- based criminological theory. A deficiency of reintegrative shaming theory is that it neglects pride as the flip side of shame as an emotion. Shame displacement may be important to the explanation of rape; yet narcissistic pride may be more important. In war we see more vividly the social dynamics of how shame displacement and narcissistic pride allow both rape and the onset of war itself.Bougainville helps us to ponder how historically sustained, deep and broad restorative justice processes may be part of what is needed to return a society to peace and to low levels of rape.(author's abstract) Da-Yu Kao and Shiuh-Jeng Wang and Frank Fu-Yuan Huang. Persistence and desistance: examining the impact of re-integrative shaming to ethics in Taiwan juvenile hackers. The Internet community has been addressing the unethical behavior of juvenile delinquents for years. Nevertheless, the concepts of hacker shame and ethics have received little empirical study from a theoretical perspective in the field of cyber criminology. Braithwaite's re-integrative Shaming Theory posits that it can restrain individuals from committing future offenses, and that those who participate in this shaming process are less likely to consider breaking the law in the first place. Among the abundance of criminological theories, the re-integrative Shaming Theory may be the most suitable theory to restrain hacker activities. This study focuses on the working relationship between nine juvenile delinquents and the shaming mechanism applied to them. However, applying this approach to reduce recidivism among computer hackers requires a great deal of time and effort. It is proposed that the state of shame or remorse is associated with the compounded affective processes of hacker ethics. The proposed solution creates a code of ethics for hackers, distinguishes right from wrong, and ensures a greater success for Braithwaite's re-integrative shaming methods. This paper discusses the problems and solutions related to the Shaming Theory, as well as their usefulness in the context of community-based restorative justice. It is argued that re-integrative shaming, without appropriate consideration for the offender's personal code of ethics, is insufficient when handling hacking offenses committed by juveniles. Our main concern is to find out how to help or encourage the offender's reintegration and re-entering into the community, and how s/he can avoid failure. It is hoped that our proposed strategy can prevent future offending behaviors by these juveniles. Implications drawn from the findings are discussed, and suggestions are offered to ensure the success of this theory when applied to juvenile hackers. (author's abstract) Goold, Benjamin. Restorative Cautioning, Theories of Reintegration, and the Influence of Japanese Notions of Shame Certainly one of the most significant developments in the treatment of young offenders in Britain over the past decade has been the move away from punitive forms of cautioning towards a new type of informal disposal known as "restorative cautioning". Although there is now a considerable body of academic and professional literature that examines the theory and practice of restorative cautioning, recently little has been written about the intellectual and cultural origins of this new approach to punishment and dispute resolution. This article explains some of the central notions of restorative justice, drawing particular attention to the influence of Japanese notions of shame and community on cautioning practices in Britain and elsewhere. (excerpt) Harris, Nathan. Reintegrative Shaming, Shame, and Criminal Justice. This study tested the implication of reintegrative shaming theory (RST) (Braithwaite, 1989) that social disapproval (shaming) has an effect on the emotions that offenders feel. Interviews were conducted with 720 participants who had recently attended a court case or family group conference in the Australian Capital Territory, having been apprehended for driving while over the legal alcohol limit. Analyses show that shame-related emotions were predicted by perceptions of social disapproval, but that the relationship was more complex than expected. Differences between the shame-related emotions may have implications for theory. Comparisons between the court cases and family group conferences were consistent with expectations that restorative justice interventions would be more reintegrative, but also showed that they were not perceived as less stigmatizing. (author's abstract) Hendrix, Gina Marie. A Test of Reintegrative Shaming Theory's Concepts of Interdependence and Expressed Shame in Restorative Justice Conferencing. This thesis examines Braithwaite's (1989) reintegrative shaming theory's concepts of interdependence and expressed shame. Interdependence is operationalized through an adaptation of Hirschi's (1969) social control theory, specifically attachment to mother, commitment to conventional institutions of church and school, and involvement in conventional activities. Data from the Indianapolis Restorative Justice Experiment are used. Bivariate analysis was employed to examine the relationship between diversion group assignment and levels of interdependency and expressed shame. Multivariate analysis was employed to examine the relationship of interdependency and expressed shame with re-offending. Results showed youths that completed restorative justice conferencing had higher levels of interdependency and expressed shame than control youths, but interdependency and expressed shame were not predictive of re-offending. Limitations and implications are discussed. Author's abstract. John Braithwaite video introduction to restorative justice John Braithwaite is a leader in restorative justice (and in many other fields). He teaches at Australian National University which has now posted an 18 minute video in which he explains the basic theories and applications of restorative justice. It is well done, and is presented in segments, which means it can be used in whole or in part. Losoncz, Ibolya and Tyson, Graham. Parental Shaming and Adolescent Delinquency: A Partial Test of Reintegrative Shaming Theory. The past decade has seen an increase in the application of Braithwaite's reintegrative shaming theory as a framework for restorative justice programs. However, to date the theory has received little empirical testing of the theory by exploring the appropriateness of the causal model put forward by Braithwaite. One-hundred- and- seventy Year 9 and Year 10 high school students from two government high schools in the Australian Capital Territory completed a survey capturing projected delinquency, delinquent peers and family processes. Principlan component analysis found an overlap between aspects of shaming with reintegration and stigmatisation. Furthermore, not all facets of reintegration and stigmatisation were found to be discrete concepts. Results from subsequent structural equation modelling were largely supportive of RST, particularly the theory's emphasis on the harmful effects of stigmatisation and the beneficial effects of reintegration. However, shaming, as defined in the theory, may not affect predatory crime in the way it is predicted by RST. (author's abstract) Lu, Catherine. Shame, Guilt and Reconciliation after War. How do experiences of shame and guilt shape or reflect the ways in which the vanquished are reconciled (or not) to the new world order established by the victors? Shame and guilt are universal experiences in the emotional landscape of post-war politics, albeit for different reasons and with radically different political effects. An examination of Germany after 1918 and of Japan after 1945 reveals that experiences of shame and guilt may be pivotal for creating conditions of possibility for reconciliation marked by political and moral transformation. This transformative potential of shame and guilt, however, is a double-edged sword. In threatening old identities, values and beliefs, experiences of shame and guilt may provoke defensive, reactionary and violent political responses, and thus may precipitate hideous rather than salutary transformations. Political leadership and political culture are crucial factors in shaping the kind of reconciliation – reactionary or transformative – as well as the specific nature of transformations that experiences of shame and guilt may motivate the vanquished to pursue. (author's abstract) Maxwell, Gabrielle and Morris, Allison. What is the Place of Shame in Restorative Justice? As Gabrielle Maxwell and Allison Morris observe, John Braithwaite’s theory of reintegrative shaming (1989) has been quite influential in providing a basis for restorative justice in general and for some forms of conferencing in particular. (Braithwaite himself linked shaming with family group conferences in New Zealand and traditional Maori conflict resolution processes.) Following this, Masters (1998) argued that shame is a critical component in the development of effective restorative justice. Maxwell and Morris dissent. They do not link shaming with family group conferences in New Zealand, nor do they see shaming as an essential part of restorative justice. Hence, in this essay Maxwell and Morris question these presumed links between shaming and effective crime control at both theoretical and empirical levels. Menzel, Kenneth. Circle Sentencing as a Shaming Sanction At its heart, circle sentencing is a form of shaming. In the presence of the victim of her crime, her peers, and the community at large, an offender must own up to the wrongful conduct in which she engaged. By personally publicizing her criminal act, an offender can expect to feel markedly embarrassed, decidedly shaken, and wholeheartedly regretful. Thus, instilling shame upon the offender is a major purpose of circle sentencing. At the same time, however, the shame instilled upon the offender lasts no longer than the length of that particular circle sentencing episode. By virtue of the personalized nature of the sentence, the legitimacy of the sentence giver, and the atmosphere conducive to apology, the offender is reincorporated back into the community without any lingering badge of dishonor. Simply put, the shame placed upon the offender, while great, is also finite and is ultimately lifted in favor of community reintegration. Mills, Linda G.. Shame and intimate abuse: The critical missing link between cause and cure. Intimate abuse scholars have not, in general, recognized how central shame is in motivating perpetrators toward violence and in overshadowing a victim's experience of abuse. By teasing out what I call the shameful experience, victim and offender may gain new insight into the origins of violence. Acknowledging that shame is entwined both in the precipitation and reaction to violence provides a critical missing link in understanding the phenomenon of intimate abuse. Developing new mechanisms for identifying and addressing shame may be key to interrupting violence, as well as preventing its transmission to the next generation of victims and offenders. (author's abstract) Morris, Allison. Revisiting reintegrative shaming In this article, Morris looks again at John Braithwaite’s theory of reintegrative shaming. Murphy, Kristina and Harris, Nathan. Shaming, Shame and Recidivism: A Test of Reintegrative Shaming Theory in the White-Collar Crime Context. Despite the popularity of reintegrative shaming theory in the field of criminology, only a small number of studies purporting to test it have been published to date. The aim of the present study, therefore, is to provide an empirical test of Braithwaite's (1989; Braithwaite and Braithwaite 2001) theory of reintegrative shaming in the white-collar crime context. The data on which the study is based came from survey data collected from a group of 652 tax offenders. Consistent with predictions, it was found that feelings of reintegration/stigmatization experienced during an enforcement event were related to reoffending behaviour. Those taxpayers who felt that their enforcement experience had been reintegrative in nature were less likely to report having evaded their taxes two years later. Consistent with Braithwaite and Braithwaite's (2001) hypotheses, shame-related emotions were also found to partially mediate the effect of reintegration on subsequent offending behaviour. Implications for the effective regulation of white-collar offenders are discussed. (author's abstract) Pynchon, Victoria.. Shame by Any Other Name: Lessons for Restorative Justice From the Principles, Traditions and Practices of Alcoholics Anonymous Restorative Justice theorists and practitioners assert that censuring the offender’s criminal behavior and its deleterious effect on the victim without stigmatizing him will engender empathy for the victim and accountability in the offender, thus reducing recidivism. Whether participation in a single VOM can accomplish such far-reaching foals has been the subject of much debate in restorative justice circles. This paper suggests that a thorough understanding of – together with shame-reducing VOM practices and post-offender shame-reduction ‘recovery’ programs – are absolutely necessary if restorative justice is to achieve its rehabilitative goals. (excerpt) Shame and restorative justice Have you ever embarrassed someone intentionally? If so, why did you do it? Maybe it was an accident or a joke taken too far. Maybe you wanted to get back at them for something wrong they had done to you. If you’ve ever done this, you’re not alone, for the criminal justice system also uses embarrassment and shame to accomplish its goals. Next 5 items » [1] 2 Document Actions Send this Print this	Africa Asia Europe Latin America Middle East North America and Caribbean Pacific Search 9932 publications on restorative justice Recent RJOB Comments Oakland as a RJ city? Jul 29, 2010 Trauma Jul 29, 2010 Psych Reports to BPT board Jul 29, 2010 More… Slide Show: What is Restorative Justice Click to view a slideshow discussing the definition of restorative justice. Jul 21, 2010 Promoting Restorative Justice in Panama Jul 28, 2010 Raising Community Awareness in Swaziland Jul 28, 2010 Exploring alternatives in Finland Jul 28, 2010 PF Rwanda Receives Grant for Reconciliation Work Jun 27, 2010 Restorative Justice in the Community.