Samenvatting

In this study the author points out that ritual theories of restorative justice – which revolve around emotional bonding – fail to explain the rather low emotional temperature of many (youth) conferences. Emotion management theory may offer a more adequate explanation, thereby suggesting that participants’ reservations and discomfort are related to demanding display rules (enact a sincere and authentic role; enact cooperativeness; etc.). It is argued that display rules form an integral part of a relatively compelling ‘emotional regime’, a specific set of affective behavioural norms which define the ‘manners’ during the meeting. In this regime there is considerable social pressure to conform to norms and standards how to express emotions, which contradicts the restorative justice rhetoric of voluntary dialogue, free of coercion.