UNDERWORLD GAMES - A TRANSACTIONAL VIEW OF RACKETS

• NCJ Number: 36247
• Journal: British Journal of Criminology Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1976) Pages: 267-274
• Author(s): A J BYRON
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Institute for the Study and Treatment of Delinquency
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS THEORY IS USED TO EXPLAIN THE MOTIVATIONS BEHIND THE GAMES THAT INMATES PLAY AMONG THEMSELVES - 'RACKETS' REFERS TO 'CROOKED FEELINGS' (I.E., DISHONESTY IN INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS).

Abstract

COMMON FEATURES IN THE PRISON ENVIRONMENT ARE ANGRY RACKETS, ALSO RESENTFUL, DEPRESSIVE RACKETS. THESE ARE SET UP BY PEOPLE WHO MIMIC CHILDHOOD SCENES AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE, BASED ON THE IDEA THAT SOME CRITICAL ATTENTION FROM PARENTAL FIGURES IS BETER THAN NOTHING AND ON FEELINGS OF LACK OF SELF-WORTH. PRISON AUTHORITIES ARE FREQUENTLY MANIPULATED INTO GIVING THE CRITICAL ATTENTION WHICH IS DESIRED BY THE PERSON, WHICH AGGRAVATES THE RACKET RATHER THAN HELPING TO ELIMINATE IT. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GAMES THAT ARE FAIRLY COMMON IN THE PRISON ENVIRONMENT WHICH INVOLVE STEREOTYPED PAY-OFFS WITH ANGRY RACKETS REINFORCED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)