Public shaming as a form of deterrence for transgressions involving harm to others

Between tar and feathers, the stocks, and publicly throwing produce at individuals, public shaming is a form of punishment that has been used for centuries. Public shaming has evolved relative to the old methods, often including behaviors such as protesting and social media posts. The mechanisms beh...

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Main Authors: C. J. Erion, Alexandra Nicole Bitter, Sean M. McCrea, Karen Bartsch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Social Influence
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15534510.2025.2495561
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author C. J. Erion
Alexandra Nicole Bitter
Sean M. McCrea
Karen Bartsch
author_facet C. J. Erion
Alexandra Nicole Bitter
Sean M. McCrea
Karen Bartsch
author_sort C. J. Erion
collection DOAJ
description Between tar and feathers, the stocks, and publicly throwing produce at individuals, public shaming is a form of punishment that has been used for centuries. Public shaming has evolved relative to the old methods, often including behaviors such as protesting and social media posts. The mechanisms behind public shaming behaviors, however, are largely unknown. Are people more likely to publicly shame certain transgressions relative to other types of transgressions? Are there specific motives such as deterrence or retribution that drive people to public shame transgressors? Findings were generally consistent with our two main hypotheses: 1) publicly shaming is more likely for transgressions that are harmful to others, and 2) public shaming is motivated by the desire to deter future transgressions.
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spelling doaj-art-c8347dfb7aed429dbe31f871ffa5cb3a2025-08-20T02:27:14ZengTaylor & Francis GroupSocial Influence1553-45101553-45292025-12-0120110.1080/15534510.2025.2495561Public shaming as a form of deterrence for transgressions involving harm to othersC. J. Erion0Alexandra Nicole Bitter1Sean M. McCrea2Karen Bartsch3Department of Psychology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, USADepartment of Psychology, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, USADepartment of Psychology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, USADepartment of Psychology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, USABetween tar and feathers, the stocks, and publicly throwing produce at individuals, public shaming is a form of punishment that has been used for centuries. Public shaming has evolved relative to the old methods, often including behaviors such as protesting and social media posts. The mechanisms behind public shaming behaviors, however, are largely unknown. Are people more likely to publicly shame certain transgressions relative to other types of transgressions? Are there specific motives such as deterrence or retribution that drive people to public shame transgressors? Findings were generally consistent with our two main hypotheses: 1) publicly shaming is more likely for transgressions that are harmful to others, and 2) public shaming is motivated by the desire to deter future transgressions.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15534510.2025.2495561Public shamingharmdeterrencemoral foundationspunishment motives
spellingShingle C. J. Erion
Alexandra Nicole Bitter
Sean M. McCrea
Karen Bartsch
Public shaming as a form of deterrence for transgressions involving harm to others
Social Influence
Public shaming
harm
deterrence
moral foundations
punishment motives
title Public shaming as a form of deterrence for transgressions involving harm to others
title_full Public shaming as a form of deterrence for transgressions involving harm to others
title_fullStr Public shaming as a form of deterrence for transgressions involving harm to others
title_full_unstemmed Public shaming as a form of deterrence for transgressions involving harm to others
title_short Public shaming as a form of deterrence for transgressions involving harm to others
title_sort public shaming as a form of deterrence for transgressions involving harm to others
topic Public shaming
harm
deterrence
moral foundations
punishment motives
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15534510.2025.2495561
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