Emotions, future selves and the process of desistance.

Journal article


Hunter, Ben and Farrall, Stephen 2017. Emotions, future selves and the process of desistance. The British Journal of Criminology. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azx017
AuthorsHunter, Ben and Farrall, Stephen
Abstract

Desistance research emphasizes that offenders identify a future self that aids desistance efforts. However, it is unclear how future selves operate when offending opportunities arise. To explore this, we employ qualitative accounts of instances when offenders and ex-offenders abstained from offending, and the emotions this evoked. Offending was avoided to preserve aspects of offenders’ lives or avoid negative consequences but, for some, avoiding offending brought frustration. Finally, those who had made the most progress towards desistance were less likely to identify opportunities for offending. These findings suggest future selves inform the desistance process, highlighting particular ways to be. However, time is needed to build up valued aspects of the life that may be feared lost if engaging in crime. Before the benefits of abstaining are recognized, there may be a tension between the future and current self.

Keywordsdesistance; Emotions
Year2017
JournalThe British Journal of Criminology
PublisherOxford University Press
ISSN00070955
14643529
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azx017
Web address (URL)http://hdl.handle.net/10545/623449
hdl:10545/623449
Publication dates21 Mar 2017
Publication process dates
Deposited30 Jan 2019, 14:35
Accepted25 Jan 2017
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Archived with thanks to The British Journal of Criminology

ContributorsUniversity of Sheffield and University of Greenwich
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