Degrading situations and antisocial behaviour: an experimental approach to delinquency

Abstract

INTRODIJCTIONAre we all likely to behave contrary to our morality or to commit illegal acts? This seems probable if we refer to past studies in social psychology. Milgram's subjects (Milgram, 1974) gave a 'lethal' reinforcement simply when ordered to do so by a 'scientific authority'. The 'guards' in Zimbardo's classic prison study (1 969) readily acted as torturers. However, the majority of criminological approaches to delinquency' (biological, psychological or sociological) are based on the implicit postulate that there are natural differences between delinquent and non-delinquent individuals. In consequence, there is little research on situational influences in the study of delinquency, compared to the attention given to the social and psychological attributes of offenders. As Amdur (1989) notes, natural differences Addressee for correspondence: F. Van Duuren, Univcrsitb Charles de Gaulle, Labacolil, U F R dc Psychologie 59653 Villeneuve-D'Ascq Cedex, France.We would like to thank R. Bialek, P. Gadeyne, A . Mark and L. Norgd who were experimenters, V.Christophe and I. Myatovic who performed the confederate's role and N. Emler for his helpful comments.'This term refers here to offences such as theft, vandalism and fraud, the behaviours which appear daily in newspaper headlines in the petty delinquency column.

Going to College and Unpacking Hazing: A Functional Approach to Decrypting Initiation Practices Among Undergraduates.

“…A few laboratory findings are compatible with a dependency interpretation of maltreatment effects. Van Duuren and Di Giacomo (1996, 1997) also uncovered a link between harsh treatment and dependency across several experimental studies. These researchers reported that undergraduates who experienced public failure were not only more eager to affiliate, they were also more vulnerable to social influence (Van Duuren & Di Giacomo, 1996, 1997).…”

“…The socialemotional bonds that result increase vulnerability to social influence and indoctrination (Baron, 2000;Dolinski et al, 2002;Van Duuren & Di Giacomo, 1996, 1997 and foster a depersonalized, social identity (Baron, 2000;Hogg, 2001;Rosenblatt, 1964). At the same time, maltreatment signals differential power: The depersonalized individual's dependence on the group is not matched by any dependence the group has on individuals.…”

“…Di Giacomo (1996, 1997) also uncovered a link between harsh treatment and dependency across several experimental studies. These researchers reported that undergraduates who experienced public failure were not only more eager to affiliate, they were also more vulnerable to social influence (Van Duuren & Di Giacomo, 1996, 1997. For example, after it was publicly announced that they had performed poorly on a test, participants were significantly more likely to join with a confederate and follow that person's suggestions to participate in a theft (Van Duuren & Di Giacomo, 1996).…”

“…The integrative story of maltreatment effects and social bonds might go like this: Maltreatment generates uncertainty, emotional extremes, and stress, which elicit affectional and affiliative behavior toward individuals or groups that is normally adaptive (Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Bowlby, 1969/1982; DeVries, Glasper, & Detillion, 2003; Festinger, 1954; Florian, Mikulincer, & Hirschberger, 2002; Gump & Kulik, 1997; Rajecki et al, 1978; Schachter, 1959; Smith et al, 1999; Uchino, Cacioppo, & Kiecolt-Glaser, 1996). The social-emotional bonds that result increase vulnerability to social influence and indoctrination (Baron, 2000; Dolinski et al, 2002; Van Duuren & Di Giacomo, 1996, 1997) and foster a depersonalized, social identity (Baron, 2000; Hogg, 2001; Rosenblatt, 1964). At the same time, maltreatment signals differential power: The depersonalized individual's dependence on the group is not matched by any dependence the group has on individuals.…”

“…There is some behavioral evidence from laboratory studies that has linked social dependency in the form of compliance or conformity to experimentally induced discomfort. For example, harsh treatment in the form of public failure was found to increase social compliance (Van Duuren & Di Giacomo, 1996, 1997). Studies of initiation severity per se rarely test for social dependency, although when Schopler and Bateson (1962) did, they found that severe inductions increased initiates' dependency on the opinion of the experimenter.…”