Theory of reintegrative shaming

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The theory of reintegrative shaming (English: reintegrative shaming ) to explain the absence of crime and at the same time be an effective crime control. The theory published in 1989 by the Australian criminologist John Braithwaite relies on the integrative effect of a positively applied shaming of the offender.

Content-related statements

If the forces of social bonds fail and (primary) delinquency occurs, the social environment must respond with shaming . This includes all acts of social disapproval by which a person is clearly signaled that their behavior is inappropriate or morally wrong. The aim of shaming is that the delinquent recognizes his mistake and that remorse and feelings of guilt are aroused in him. The fear of remorse and further embarrassing rejections should deter him from further offenses. In addition, the ceremonial disapproval is intended to strengthen the trust of the law-abiding community members in the effectiveness of the norms .

Braithwaite distinguishes two forms of shame. the reintegrative shaming and stigmatization . The stigmatizing shame leads to a further weakening of the ties to society because it excludes the delinquent and deprives him of the opportunities to make a legal living. That makes secondary deviance likely. Only reintegrating shame can have a behavioral control effect and avoid relapses. With this form of humiliation, only the criminal behavior is disapproved, but not the person of the perpetrator is rejected. Immediately following the collective disapproval, the forgiveness and re-entry into the community is granted in a ceremony.

Criminological reception

The theory of reintegrative shaming is considered a milestone in criminological theory formation. Immediately after its publication, it caused a sensation beyond Australia and New Zealand in the entire Anglo-American language area. The high level of attention is due to the fact that Braithwaite combined the most important strands of theory in criminal sociology in his approach: subculture , control , anomie and learning theory as well as the labeling approach .

However, the limitation is that reintegrative shaming can only work in communitarian societies. Western societies, on the other hand , are designed individually as a result of urbanization and mobility . Karl-Ludwig Kunz and Tobias Singelnstein point out the ambiguity of the Braithwaite concept: “Whoever supports citizen participation in the humiliation of criminals - and not in the creation of social compensation! - Enter, play with fire. ”Under the real conditions of a non-communitarian society, in which citizens are more involved in the ostracism than in the active reintegration of perpetrators, the re-integrative rather than the stigmatizing effect of shame is to be expected.

literature

  • John Braithwaite : Crime, shame, and reintegration . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (Massachusetts) / New York 1989, ISBN 0-521-35668-7 .
  • Peter Maria Münster: The concept of reintegrative shaming by John Braithwaite. Criminal sociological and practical significance of a new old theory of criminal social control , Lit, Berlin 2006, ISBN 978-3-8258-9676-8 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Presentation is based on: Michael Bock , Kriminologie , 4th edition, Vahlen, Munich 2013, ISBN 978-3-8006-4705-7 , p. 76 ff .; as well as:
    Karl-Ludwig Kunz and Tobias Singelnstein , Criminology: A Foundation. 7th, fundamentally revised edition, Haupt, Bern 2016, ISBN 978-3-8252-4683-9 , pp. 132 ff.
  2. ↑ Peter Maria Münster: The concept of reintegrative shaming by John Braithwaite. Criminal sociological and practical significance of a new old theory of social control under criminal law , Lit, Berlin 2006, p. 1.
  3. ^ Karl-Ludwig Kunz and Tobias Singelnstein , Criminology: A foundation. 7th, fundamentally revised edition, Haupt, Bern 2016, ISBN 978-3-8252-4683-9 , p. 134 f.