Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Remorse and neutralization among violent male offenders

2003; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 20; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/07418820300095701

1745-9109

Lois Presser,

Crime Patterns and Interventions

Expression of remorse by an offender to his or her victim represents healing in the aftermath of a crime. Thus, it is important to consider what may influence or impede remorse. This article analyzes interviews with 27 men who committed serious violent crimes to examine their talk about victims, responsibility, and remorse. Most of the men excused or justified their crimes using cultural discourses about violence and blameworthy victims. They spoke of feeling sorry for themselves, not for their victims. Men who expressed remorse perceived their victims as morally blameless. They humanized their victims, and their victims humanized them. This research was made possible by a fellowship from the Office of Research and Advanced Studies at the University of Cincinnati. The author thanks Robert McConaughy, Emily Gaarder, Lorraine Mazerolle, Donald Hastings, Shadd Maruna, Richard Greenleaf, and the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on earlier drafts of this article. This research was made possible by a fellowship from the Office of Research and Advanced Studies at the University of Cincinnati. The author thanks Robert McConaughy, Emily Gaarder, Lorraine Mazerolle, Donald Hastings, Shadd Maruna, Richard Greenleaf, and the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on earlier drafts of this article. Notes This research was made possible by a fellowship from the Office of Research and Advanced Studies at the University of Cincinnati. The author thanks Robert McConaughy, Emily Gaarder, Lorraine Mazerolle, Donald Hastings, Shadd Maruna, Richard Greenleaf, and the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on earlier drafts of this article.