When disadvantaged adolescents strike out: the impact of negative metastereotypes on delinquency
| Date | 15 March 2013 |
| Pages | 4-18 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20093821311307721 |
| Published date | 15 March 2013 |
| Author | Christian Issmer,Jost Stellmacher,Mario Gollwitzer |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Public policy & environmental management,Sociology |
When disadvantaged adolescents
strike out: the impact of negative
metastereotypes on delinquency
Christian Issmer, Jost Stellmacher and Mario Gollwitzer
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to examine the impact of perceived negativity against the ingroup on
delinquency in disadvantaged social groups. It is based on assumptions from labeling theory and social
identity theory.
Design/methodology/approach – The authors hypothesized that negative metastereotypes towards
the outgroup ‘‘majority society’’ (i.e. the perception of the outgroup holding negative stereotypes against
the ingroup) would enhance delinquent behavior. Based on recent findings from research on
self-esteem and aggression, the authors further hypothesized that self-esteem would moderate this
effect, namely that delinquency-enhancement would be strongest for individuals high in self-esteem.
The hypotheses were tested in a sample of incarcerated adolescents (n¼225) and a sample of
educationally disadvantaged adolescents (n¼92), respectively.
Findings – Negative metastereotypes towards the ‘‘majority society’ ’ are positively related to delinquent
behavior. This effect is particularly strong when disadvantaged individuals’ positive self-regard is high.
Research limitations/implications – This research gives important, new insights on the basis of
cross-sectional, correlative data. Future research should aim to corroborate the findings by use of
experimental or longitudinal designs.
Originality/value – The paper shows that the perception of negative stereotypes against one’s
disadvantaged ingroup in society is a risk factor for delinquent behavior. It furthermore highlights how
personality differences in self-esteem influence this relationship. The research builds a bridge between
criminological labeling theory and social-psychological social identity theory.
Keywords Metastereotypes, Labelling, Delinquency,Aggression, Self-esteem, Disadvantaged groups,
Adolescence, Young adults, Social isolation
Paper type Research paper
Negative labeling and stigmatization by society contribute to delinquency.This basic premise
of the labeling theory of delinquent behavior (Becker, 1963; Lemert, 1951) has been
demonstrated in a range of empirical studies (Bernburg et al., 2006; Paternoster and Iovanni,
1989). Yet, while there is ample evidence for the delinquency-enhancing effect of objective
labeling (e.g. by a criminal conviction), less is known about the subjective processes involved,
namely which role affected individuals’ perceptions of labels and associated stereotypes play
(for a notable exception in research on mental illness stigma, see Link et al. (1989)).
The current paper focuses on the impact of disadvantaged individuals’ perceptions of
negative stereotypes against them and their social group in society. These perceptions are
conceptualized as negative metastereotypes. Metastereotypes have been defined as
‘‘a person’s beliefs regarding the stereotypes that out-group members hold about his or her
own group’’ (Vorauer et al., 1998, p. 917). In the current research the majority society is the
relevant out-group. Previous research has shown that metastereotypes are most readily
activated and applied by groups low in power (Lammers et al., 2008) and are predominantly
negative (Vorauer et al., 1998).
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JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY
j
VOL. 3 NO. 1 2013, pp. 4-18, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2009-3829 DOI 10.1108/20093821311307721
Christian Issmer,
Jost Stellmacher and
Mario Gollwitzer are based
in the Department of
Psychology,
Philipps-University
Marburg, Marburg,
Germany.
The authors wish to thank their
student assistants for their help
with data collection and Ulrich
Wagner and Jan Weber for their
valuable comments on earlier
drafts of this paper. The
research was conducted while
the first author was associated
Doctoral Fellow of the DFG
Research Training Group
‘‘Group-focused enmity’’ (GRK
884) located at the Universities
of Marburg and Bielefeld,
Germany.
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