Personality Features of Female Offenders in Prison Family Relationships

• NCJ Number: 235555
• Journal: Corrections Compendium Volume: 35 Issue: 4 Dated: Winter 2010 Pages: 1-5,13
• Author(s): Kathryn L. Fraser; Ann B. Loper
• Date Published: 2010
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the relational patterns of female inmates, as indicated by the presence of personality disorder symptoms of inmates who reported numerous (three or more) surrogate prison family relationships; these patterns were contrasted with inmates who reported fewer similar relationships.

Abstract

Approximately 53 percent of the 213 women inmates in the sample reported that they had three or more surrogate familial relationships with other inmates at the institution. These inmates had more diagnostic symptoms for borderline, schizotypal, obsessive-compulsive, and dependent personality disorders than those inmates who reported fewer such relationships. Each of these personality disorders may be associated with poor social adjustment; for example, individuals with dependent personality disorder are insecure and express an overwhelming need for care, attention, and affirmation, which may lead to the tendency to be drawn to the emotional security of a surrogate family in prison. These study findings were consistent with models of personality disorder that emphasize enduring beliefs and behaviors. When women enter prison, they may be attracted to prison family systems based on their own maladaptive schemas. The "family" becomes a consistent and familiar social structure that can mimic their previous family and social interactions prior to incarceration. Once becoming a part of the "family," however, the individual's maladaptive schemas hinder healthy interactions. At the request of the institution (a minimum-security prison in central Virginia), inmates were invited to participate in the study by completing a series of paper-and-pencil measures. Due to attrition and transfers from the selected pool of 264 women, the data collection involved 213 inmates. Data on these women's psychological profile were obtained from structured clinical interviews for DSM-IV personality disorders and selected items from the Prison Personal Support Questionnaire. 2 tables and 26 references