Perceptions of Someone’s “True Self” Related to Justice Preferences for that Individual

In a recent study, CSMRE faculty affiliate Rebecca J. Schlegel teamed up with colleagues to examine the link between whether one believes criminal behavior is reflective of the offender’s “true self” and the justice preferences for that individual. They conducted four studies, accounting for a host of factors that might influence the relationships. When study participants believed that someone’s crime showed their “true self,” they favored retributive forms of justice, such as ensuring that the punishment fits the crime. On the other hand, when they believed the crime did not represent who the offender truly was as a person, the raters preferred restorative forms of justice. This approach focuses on rehabilitation and restoring relationships between the parties affected by the crime. The authors concluded: “Attributing criminal actions to a person’s true self prompts greater support for retributive and lesser support for restorative forms of punishment. The lay understanding of true selves may thus represent a critical social-cognitive mechanism that underlies people’s preferences for certain kinds of justice and punishment.”

Maffly-Kipp, J., Rivera, G. N., Schlegel, R. J., & Vess, M. (2021). The Effect of True Self-Attributions on the Endorsement of Retributive and Restorative Justice. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672211027473