PSYCHOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF LONG-TERM IMPRISONMENT, PART 3 - ATTITUDINAL VARIABLES

• NCJ Number: 25019
• Journal: BRITISH JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY, DELINQUENCY, AND DEVIANT SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1974) Pages: 150-157
• Author(s): K J HESKIN; N BOLTON; F V SMITH; P A BANISTER
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Stevens and Sons
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

RESULTS OF A STUDY EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LENGTH OF IMPRISONMENT SERVED AND PRISONERS' ATTITUDES TO CONCEPTS SELECTED EITHER BECAUSE OF THEIR PRISON EXPERIENCE RELEVANCE OR THEIR GENERAL IMPORTANCE.

Abstract

A SEMANTIC DIFFERENTIAL TEST WAS ADMINISTERED TO 175 MEN SERVING DETERMINATE SENTENCES OF 10 YEARS AND ABOVE OR INDETERMINATE SENTENCES IN PRISONS THROUGHOUT ENGLAND. THE SAMPLE WAS DIVIDED INTO FOUR GROUPS, MATCHED FOR AGE BUT DIFFERING IN MEAN TOTAL LENGTHS OF ACCUMULATED IMPRISONMENT EXPERIENCED. SELF-EVALUATION WAS FOUND TO DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY WITH IMPRISONMENT. EVIDENCE WAS PRESENTED WHICH SUPPORTS THE CONTENTION THAT IMPRISONMENT ITSELF, RATHER THAN RELEASE-SELECTION PROCEDURES, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS TREND. THERE WAS SOME EVIDENCE THAT INCREASING IMPRISONMENT IS ASSOCIATED WITH MORE UNFAVORABLE ATTITUDES TO THE CONCEPTS OF WORK AND FATHER. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THESE LATTER TWO CHANGES MIGHT BE A CONSEQUENCE OF THE BREAKDOWN OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PRISONERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)