Cronje-Peacock Acta Criminologica: Southern African Journal of Criminology Special Edition No 2/2015: Change in African Corrections: From incarceration to reintegration ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 79 EXPLORING THE NATURE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF-ESTEEM AND OFFENCE TYPE OF A GROUP OF RECIDIVISTS Matthew Cronje 1 and Robert Peacock 2 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT The discrepancies between perspectives on self-esteem and its effect on problematic behaviour have undermined self-esteem as a prominent indicator of future and repeated offending behaviour. Further inquiry has, however, led researchers to believe that although self-esteem may not have a causal relationship with offending behaviour, it is considered a strong indicator of the type of offence individuals at risk are likely to commit. Quantitative analysis was conducted using the self-concept theory of Carl Rogers to guide the research. A purposive sample of 73 male repeat offenders from ten correctional centres in the Zululand area was included in the study. Self-esteem was assessed in light of numerous variables focusing on offence type. The results indicated that the self-esteem scores of the repeat offender sample varied significantly in terms of offence type. Aggressive offenders had the highest levels of self-esteem. Differences in self-esteem scores were also found between sexual offenders and participants classified as economic, narcotic and “other” offenders. Further differences in self-esteem scores were found between a combination of offenders classified as economic, narcotic and “other” when compared to the total sample mean. Keywords: Recidivism; repeat offenders; self-esteem; offence type; self-concept; offending behaviour. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION The term self-esteem refers to the evaluative aspect of self-perception. The manner in which individuals usually assess their own worth and ability refers to both subjective and introspective processes but the role of the environment remains pivotal. How individuals perceive themselves is often an important part of how worthy they feel as human beings. This value system often shaped through interactions with and responses from primary reference groups influence the manner in which individuals interact with their external environment (Cervone & Pervin, 2008:185-187; Cronje, 2012:1). The value individuals place on themselves is often reflected in their behaviour. Self-esteem has been cited in numerous texts as an important factor in behavioural motivation (Greenwald, Banaji, Rudman, Farnham, Nosek, & Mellott, 2002; Kling, Hyde, Showers, & Buswell, 1999; Maderthaner, 2005; Van der Hoven, 2001). Self-esteem will therefore be used as a point of departure for understanding problematic behaviour, as this interaction should be no different for individuals who display deviant or criminal behavioural patterns (Cronje, 2012:1). Self-esteem defined One’s perception of self-worth is seldom based on internal factors alone. Researchers (primarily influenced by the work of Carl Rogers) often view self-esteem as being equivalent to the degree of congruence achieved between one’s current perception of self and the perception of who or what one ideally aspires to be (Cronje, 2012:2). Self-esteem can also be defined as the relationship between the self and external factors, found to be influenced by the quality and nature of interactions with primary reference groups (Greenwald et al, 2002:5). Additionally, self-esteem can be viewed as a reflection of fleeting or enduring self- ________________________ 1. Doctoral student. Department of Criminology & Forensic Studies, School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal. Email: mattcronje07@gmail.com 2. Professor. Chair of the Department of Criminology, Faculty of the Humanities, University of the Free State. Email: peacockr@ufs.ac.za