The relationship between shame and violence among male perpetrators in the Windhoek central prison

Abstract

Abstract by author:

The Social Bond Theory served as the theoretical framework for the sample. Subjects were chosen on the basis of predefined characteristics that included male perpetrators between the ages of 21 and 39 years; having committed several physical violent crimes; and being imprisoned for these crimes; are regularly in conflict with other prison inmates or staff; have continuous difficulties resolving conflicts; show characteristics of a low self-esteem; and were at the Windhoek Central Prison for these crimes, at the time of conducting the study

The study was of a qualitative nature and data were generated by conducting individual, video-recorded, semi-structured interviews with three offenders at the offices of the Windhoek Central Prison. Each interview lasted approximately one hour

The recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysis involved Phillip Mayring's (1983, in Plattner, 2001) Qualitative Content Analysis. The Summarising Content Analysis technique was used. Together with the content analysis, Retzinger's (1991; 1995, in Scheff, 1997) list of verbal and nonverbal cues to hidden shame and anger was applied by observing the recorded material. The two methods were integrated in the interpretation to reach conclusive results based on the assumptions of the Social Bond Theory

Some difficulties experienced during the interviews and analysis of material, were for example language, and some content may have been lost during translation of the recorded material

A lack of sufficient opportunity for offenders to express themselves, also had an influence on the quality of relevant information obtained

Findings were very much in agreement with the Social Bond Theory and indicated that violent offenders are generally shame-based individuals. A need for further studies in the field of shame and violence, became apparent

The study also indicated a need to develop programs that could assist offenders in acknowledging and dealing with unacknowledged or toxic shame

Such programs could also be implemented at a school level, helping to identify and treat shame-based children, already at an early stage of development