Reintegrative shaming and the 'frozen antithesis': Braithwaite and Elias

Abstract

This paper compares the use of the notion of 'shame' in the criminological theory of John Braithwaite and the theory of civilising processes elaborated by Norbert Elias. It examines Braithwaite's suggestion that there are some deep 'resonances' between Elias's work and his own and concludes that their work diverges considerably, not only in terms of their fundamental understanding of the meaning of shame itself, but also in terms of their broader theoretical assumptions and perspectives, their inten tions and the uses to which their work might be put.