The Cost of Severed Social Capital: Exploring Dynamics with Estranged and “Antisocial” Ties

• In Event: They Not Like Us (Yet): The Importance of Intersectional Considerations in Reentry

Abstract

Objective: Connections with antisocial peers have been associated with undesirable outcomes in the criminal legal system. Some studies have demonstrated that nonconforming peer associations may predict deviant behaviors and increase recidivism. However, missing from the conversation is an understanding of the complexity of social roles and dynamics, as well as the cost associated with severing social relationships that practitioners categorize as antisocial as a requirement of community-based correctional supervision. This study examines and compares the characteristics and resources available from network members based on two categorizations: 1) those with histories of substance use and criminal convictions—a typical categorization of antisocial ties and 2) estranged ties from whom participants sought to disconnect due to conflict or disagreements. Methods: Data are derived from in-person interviews conducted with 159 women who were convicted of felony offenses and their 1,313 network members. Findings: Findings suggest that removing substance-using network members would reduce the average network size from eight to five members. Excluding crime-involved network members would decrease the average network size to approximately six members. When both substance-using and crime-involved network members are excluded, the average network size is reduced by approximately one-half along with about half of women’s social resources, relatively uniformly across categories (i.e., 44%-50%). Notably, Black women and women earning lower levels of income were particularly vulnerable to social capital losses. In contrast, exclusion of participants’ estranged ties resulted in negligible reduction in resources with a high concertation of ties with substance and crime histories. Conclusion: These findings suggest that prioritizing the severance of estranged ties—rather than solely focusing on substance-abusing or crime-involved network members—may be more beneficial, as estranged ties often provide minimal resources and have histories of legal system contact and substance use. By addressing these strained relationships first, individuals may preserve access to supportive social capital while still reducing negative influences within their networks.

Author

• Marva Goodson, Arizona State University