SELF-CONCEPT CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH INCARCERATION IN FEMALE PRISONERS

• NCJ Number: 51276
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 271-279
• Author(s): T E HANNUM; F H BORGEN; R M ANDERSON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Sale Source: Iowa State University
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CHANGES IN SELF-CONCEPT ASSOCIATED WITH A PERIOD OF INCARCERATION WERE INVESTIGATED IN 73 WOMEN ADMITTED TO THE IOWA WOMEN'S REFORMATORY. THEIR SELF-CONCEPT GENERALLY IMPROVED OVER A 6-MONTH PERIOD.

Abstract

AT ADMISSION THE WOMEN WERE GIVEN THE USUAL BATTERY OF ADMISSION TESTS PLUS A 24-ITEM SELF-CONCEPT SCALE. WHEN THE SAME TESTS WERE GIVEN 6 MONTHS LATER, GENERAL IMPROVEMENT WAS NOTED. THE WOMEN GENERALLY FELT THEY WERE MORE SKILLED, WERE MORE GOOD-LOOKING, WERE MORE RELAXED, AND WERE SMARTER. TEST ITEMS INDICATING THESE CHANGES ARE EXAMINED IN DETAIL AND THE FINDINGS ARE PRESENTED IN TABULAR FORM. ONLY ONE SCALE DECLINED; THE SUBJECTS WERE INCLINED TO VIEW THEMSELVES AS MORE LAZY AFTER 6 MONTHS. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE NONPRODUCTIVE NATURE OF THE INCARCERATION SETTING. IT IS HYPOTHESIZED THAT THE NEWLY ADMITTED PRISONER IS IN A PERIOD OF LOW SELF-ESTEEM AND RETURNS TO HER NORM AFTER A PERIOD OF ADJUSTMENT. SOME OF THE CHANGE IS ALSO ATTRIBUTED TO THE ACTIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE INSTITUTION. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (GLR)