Interdependency, communitarianism and reintegrative shaming in China

Abstract

Braithwaite’s theory of reintegrative shaming (1989) depicts that shaming has either crime-amplifying or inhibiting effects depending on how it is done. Using a sample of residents in Shanghai, China, this study tests Braithwaite’s hypothesis that interdependency is conducive to reintegrative rather than stigmatizing shaming. We hypothesize that individuals who have greater interdependent relationships are more likely to practice reintegrative, rather than stigmatizing, shaming. While interdependency did not affect shaming practices within the family, it had a significant impact on the resident’s on shaming practices in the neighborhood. We close by discussing shaming in Chinese society and the implications of our findings for evaluating Braithwaite’s theory in a different socio-cultural context.