Shame in forensic populations

Background: Shame is a self-conscious emotion and is recognised as a universally painful experience. Shame has been associated with a range of psychological difficulties, as well as violent offending through links with anger and aggression. It is therefore likely that shame is commonly experienced by individuals who have offended.

Method: A systematic review was conducted of the existing quantitative literature investigating shame in individuals detained in forensic institutions. Searches on online databases PsychInfo, Web of Science, EMBASE and ASSIA identified 17 studies which met eligibility criteria and were assessed using quality appraisal tools. A narrative approach was taken to synthesise the review findings.

Results: Findings from the included research were grouped into themes in relation to shame: guilt, anger, psychological difficulties, harmful behaviours, psychopathy, criminogenic factors and recidivism, and the impact on psychological interventions. The prevalence of shame in relation to different demographic groups was also identified and discussed. The findings suggest that the experience of shame can have several implications for offender populations and is associated with mental health difficulties and criminogenic risk factors which can increase recidivism.

Discussion: The quantitative studies included in this review measured different aspects of shame using a range of self-report questionnaires. Future research employing qualitative methods to explore the subjective experience of shame for individuals who have offended would be beneficial.