Families of Animal Rights Activists as a Basis of Support for Ideological Delinquency—A Phenomenological Study

• Published date: 01 February 2021
• Author: Moshe Bensimon,Tali Inbar-Frohlich,Natti Ronel
• Date: 01 February 2021
• DOI: 10.1177/0306624X20944694
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X20944694

International Journal of

Offender Therapy and

Comparative Criminology

2021, Vol. 65(2-3) 159 –179

© The Author(s) 2020

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DOI: 10.1177/0306624X20944694

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Article

Families of Animal Rights

Activists as a Basis of

Support for Ideological

Delinquency—A

Phenomenological Study

Tali Inbar-Frohlich1, Moshe Bensimon1,

and Natti Ronel1

Abstract

The presented study examined dynamics and perceptions among family members

of ideologues lawbreaking animal rights activists. In the course of the study,

parents and spouses of activists were interviewed, and its findings highlighted

a number of key themes: glorification of the activist, an envy directed toward

elements of the activism; personal gain acquired by virtue of the relationship, as

well as self-discovery which family members experienced by their exposure to

activism. By using Maruna’s “redemption script” (2001), the study presents the

manner by which perception of an activist as an idealist, leads his family members

to construct a new narrative that qualifies transgressions based on ideology. The

redemption script turns out to be bidirectional. Thus, while Maruna presented it

as an aid for desisting delinquency, the study indicates that as far as it concerns

breaking the law in favor of animals, it can mobilize family members to support all

shades of activism.

Keywords

ideological delinquency, animal rights, activist, animal abuse, phenomenological study

1Department of Criminology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel

Corresponding Author:

Tali Inbar-Frohlich, Department of Criminology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel.

Email: tali.inbarf@gmail.com

944694IJOXXX10.1177/0306624X20944694International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative CriminologyInbar-Frohlich et al.

research-article2020

160 International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 65(2-3)

Introduction

In 2006, in the United States, a federal law against what was designated “terrorism”

directed toward animal enterprises, was enacted (109th Congress, 2006). The essence

of the law (Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act) is punishing those who cast fear or

cause economic damage to businesses or persons who make use of animals directly

or indirectly. The law is an evolution of previous legislation that stands against radi-

cal animal rights organizations, but the choice of the “terrorism” terminology which

was re-enforced after 9/11, focuses on animal rights activists, especially the radicals

who deal with what they perceive as injustice in a direct and immediate manner,

while attempting to create dramatization and crisis. Some will not hesitate to break

the law (Feigin et al., 2018; Jasper & Nelkin, 1992). Such sort activity for animal

rights, is not unique to the United States. It crosses geographical, cultural and politi-

cal boundaries (Lovitz, 2007) and the activists behind it are heavily condemned by

the authorities, the general population and sometimes by other animal rights activists,

and are labeled insane and extremists (Pallotta, 2005). They often find themselves

singled out in a campaign dedicated to animal rights (McWilliams, 2013).

The current study aims to shed light on the dynamics within families of ideological

activists for animal rights from the perspective of the activists’ family members, those

whose voice, to date, has not been “heard” in the literature. In a reality, in which ani-

mal rights organizations are seemingly placed in line with a variety of different types

of terrorist organizations, the current study seeks to expand the scope in everything

that concerns studying the population which stands behind that social phenomenon

and to provide a unique perspective that will form a significant pillar in studying ideo-

logical delinquency from a yet unexplored angle.

Literature Review

Animal rights activists comprise a diverse population of people who hold different

perspectives (Herzog, 1993; Plous, 1998). All of them share sensitivity to animal pain

and a constant search for those for whom suffering, is an inherent part of their lives

(Shapiro, 1994). Some, attribute to them a type of culture or even a new religion within

which exists moral crusade which often advocates animal benefit over that of man,

takes place (Jacobsson, 2014). Others perceive them as irrational people fighting a

hopeless war (Pettinen, 2002). Alongside those, some argue that that is pure altruism,

while the activists are not fighting for their rights and not for their kind, and there is

nothing like that in the social activity world (Pallotta, 2005).

The literature tends to classify activists in various ways, among other, in accor-

dance with the manner by which they promote their goals: some perceive the change

in the condition of animals as a slow and evolving process, others seek an immediate

radical change; Some might operate alongside the system, others against it and might

even reject it (Fritsvold, 2009; Jasper & Nelkin, 1992). Radical activism seeks to chal-

lenge the status quo and for that is operating outside the conventional system (Derville,

2005). Among the radical activists, there are members who believe that breaking the

law is a viable and desirable way for promoting the goal, whether it is perceived as a