A Self-Affirmation Intervention for Responsible Parties in Restorative Justice

This study tested the psychological effects of a self-affirmation intervention (Steele, 1988) on offenders (i.e., "responsible parties") undergoing restorative justice. We randomly assigned 116 participants in restorative justice to write for ten minutes about either their values (self-affirmation condition) or a neutral control topic. Participants next completed measures of two mediator variables: self-integrity and existential connection, and three dependent variables: responsibility taking, perspective taking, and contract readiness. Compared to controls, those in the values-affirmation condition reported higher contract readiness and perspective taking, but not higher responsibility taking. The effect of self-affirmation on contract readiness was mediated by self-integrity but not by existential connection. The effect of self-affirmation on perspective taking was mediated by existential connection but not by self-integrity. Self-affirmation's mechanisms may vary based on the outcome at hand. Restorative justice practitioners might incorporate values-affirmation into the process to foster empathy and motivation among responsible parties.