The role of reflexivity in mediating structure and agency in desistance theories

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Abstract

Mechanisms of desistance are often categorized as either subjective or social, reflecting
broader debates about the primacy of agency versus structure in human behavior.
However, less attention has been paid to the role of reflexivity in mediating the
relationship between structural conditions and individual agency. Drawing on Archer’s
(2003) concept of reflexivity, defined as an individual’s internal dialogue, this project
aims to explore how different modes of reflexivity may contribute to divergent pathways
of desistance. In response to ongoing calls to better operationalize human agency
within desistance research, this study proposes that reflexivity represents a crucial but
underexplored link in understanding how individuals navigate change.

Author

• Megan E. Mohler, Temple University