Personal Control and Inmate Adjustment to Prison

Goodstein, Lynne; MacKenzie, Doris Layton; Shotland, R. Lance

doi:10.1111/j.1745-9125.1984.tb00304.x

Cited by 109 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 60 publications

(52 reference statements)

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“…Three different strands of work provide indirect evidence for the potential growth-promoting role of choice in prison. First, a number of scholars note that opportunities for choice are very limited within prison (e.g., Crewe, Liebling, & Hulley, 2014;Goffman, 1961;Sykes, 1958), and that even when several options are available, these options may all be seen as undesirable or personally unimportant (see Goodstein, MacKenzie, & Shotland, 1984 Third, previous research on procedural justice or the degree to which decision-making (within prison) is perceived to be fair and transparent is also indirectly relevant. Essential for perceived procedural justice is the experience of being able to express one's own viewpoint (which relates to the notion of choice) and experiencing this viewpoint to be taken into account (which relates to the experience of autonomy need satisfaction; Vandevelde et al, 2017).…”

Section: Contextual Affordance Of Choice As a Facilitator Of Autonomymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Contextual Affordance Of Choice As a Facilitator Of Autonomymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Choosing when choices are limited: The role of perceived afforded choice and autonomy in prisoners’ well-being.

Kaap‐Deeder¹,

Audenaert²,

Vandevelde³

et al. 2017

Law and Human Behavior

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Although prison life is generally characterized by little choice and autonomy, there exists considerable variation in the number and type of choices offered to different prisoners. Based on self-determination theory, which maintains that perceived afforded choice and autonomy are of crucial importance for individuals' psychological functioning, we investigated the relation between choice, autonomy satisfaction, and subjective quality of life among prisoners. We drew on quantitative cross-sectional data gathered among 156 Belgian prisoners (M age = 38.60, 88.5% men).Participants filled out questionnaires measuring perceived afforded choice, autonomy satisfaction, and quality of life. The main hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Results showed that perceived afforded choice related to higher subjective quality of life within prison. This relation was partially accounted for by elevated levels of autonomy satisfaction. Supplementary analyses revealed that the benefit of choice emerged regardless of participants' valuation of choice, and that perceived afforded choice with regard to daytime activities (i.e., leisure activities, work, and education) yielded the strongest effect. Collectively, results suggest that enhancing perceived afforded choice and autonomy satisfaction may provide important avenues for promoting prisoner quality of life. These findings are discussed in light of the growing focus on strength-based approaches and psychological well-being within the prison context. Public Significance StatementPrisoners who experienced a higher level of choice within prison, especially with regard to their daytime activities, reported a higher level of quality of life within prison. This relation between choice and quality of life was partially explained by prisoners' feelings of volition and self-endorsement. Notably, the benefits of choice were even apparent for prisoners stating that they do not value choice, suggesting that the promotion of choice and volition among prisoners is important for prison policy.Keywords: perceived afforded choice, autonomy, prisoners, quality of life, self-determination theory Prisoners generally experience relatively low levels of wellbeing and high rates of psychopathology compared to nondetained individuals (e.g., Boothby & Durham, 1999;Diamond, Wang, Holzer, Thomas, & Cruser, 2001;Green, Miranda, Daroowalla, & Siddique, 2005). Although reduced psychological well-being may predate imprisonment for many individuals (Adams, 1983), research also points to the detrimental effects of incarceration itself (Haney, 2001(Haney, , 2006 , 2011;Paulus, Cox, McCain, & Chandler, 1975). It is important to study well-being and its antecedents in prisoners because well-being has been found to relate to prison suicide and other negative outcomes during incarceration (Liebling & Ludlow, 2016). In addition, preliminary evidence among forensic psychiatric outpatients suggests that subjective well-being may also be negatively related to reoffending (Bouman, Schene, & de Ruiter, ...

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Section: Contextual Affordance Of Choice As a Facilitator Of Autonomymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Contextual Affordance Of Choice As a Facilitator Of Autonomymentioning

confidence: 99%

Choosing when choices are limited: The role of perceived afforded choice and autonomy in prisoners’ well-being.

Kaap‐Deeder¹,

Audenaert²,

Vandevelde³

et al. 2017

Law and Human Behavior

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Consequently, migrants are detained and eventually deported. One has a lower sense of control during confinement (Goodstein et al, 1984;Woodall et al, 2014). As stated in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (WHO, 1986), sense of control has a huge influence on an individual's health and well-being.…”

Section: Sense Of Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

“A prison with extra flavours”: experiences of immigrants in Swedish immigration detention centres

Puthoopparambil

Ahlberg

Bjerneld

2015

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care

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Purpose -The immigration detention environment largely influences the health and well-being of detainees by either aggravating medical conditions or contributing to new illness. There is limited research on how detainees experience and try to cope with this environment. The purpose of this paper is to describe experiences of detainees in Swedish immigration detention centres. Design/methodology/approach -Semi-structured interviews were conducted in three detention centres with a total of 21 detainees who had been detained for at least two weeks. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings -The detainees likened immigration detention to imprisonment. They experienced lack of control over their life situation mainly through arbitrary restrictions and lack of proper response from authorities making it appear futile to seek help. This perceived lack of control forced them into passivity. Differences in amenities provided in the centres were observed and some of these were reported to assist in making detention more bearable. Research limitations/implications -This study provides only one stakeholder perspective. The perspectives of other stakeholders, such as detention staff, health care professionals and volunteers must be explored to improve understanding and mitigate the effects of detention. Originality/value -Irrespective of the better standards of detention in Sweden, the detainees considered detention as imprisonment affecting their health and well-being. If states deem detention to be necessary, improved staff-detainee interaction should be ensured through proper staff training, arbitrary restrictions within detention should be avoided and health care services should be improved.

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“…The loss of liberty and autonomy are probably the most immediately obvious pains of being imprisoned, with prisoners' freedom of movement within the establishment also often greatly restricted by the prison regime. Studies have indicated that perceived lack of autonomy is associated with psychological distress in prisoners (Goodstein, MacKenzie & Shotland, 1984;Wright, 1993). Similarly, a greater deprivation in contact with friends or family outside of prison has been shown to be associated with poorer psychological health in prisons (Liebling, 1992;Wooldredge, 1999).…”

Section: Pains Of Imprisonmentmentioning

confidence: 99%