Some Effects of Crowding in a Prison Environment<sup>1</sup>

Paulus, Paul B.; Cox, Verne C.; McCain, Garvin; Chandler, Jane

doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.1975.tb00674.x

Cited by 62 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Among other things, we know from early research that prison overcrowding increases negative affect among prisoners (e.g., Paulus, Cox, McCain, & Chandler, 1975), elevates their blood pressure (e.g., D'Atri, 1975), and leads to greater numbers of prisoner illness complaints (e.g., McCain et al, 1976). Moreover, exposure to "long-term, intense, inescapable crowding" of the sort that characterizes many prison environments results in high levels of stress that "can lead to physical and psychological impairment" (Paulus, McCain, & Cox, 1978, p. 115;see, also, Ostfeld, Kasl, D'Atri, & Fitzgerald, 1987).…”

Section: Overcrowding: More Prisoners Than Can Be Safely and Humanelymentioning

confidence: 99%

Prison Effects in the Era of Mass Incarceration

Haney¹

2012

The Prison Journal

119

103

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This article summarizes some of the negative psychological effects of imprisonment. It examines the psychological stressors-dehumanization, deprivation, and danger-to which prisoners are exposed, and the process of prisonization by which they attempt to accommodate to their conditions of confinement. It also discusses the effects of two opposite prison extremes, overcrowding and solitary confinement, as well as the kind of vulnerabilities that many prisoners bring to prison that make the experience a form of retraumatization for them. The article ends with a set of brief, programmatic but psychologically informed proposals for change.

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Section: Overcrowding: More Prisoners Than Can Be Safely and Humanelymentioning

confidence: 99%

Prison Effects in the Era of Mass Incarceration

Haney¹

2012

The Prison Journal

119

103

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“…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).…”

Section: Public Significance Statementmentioning

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

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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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“…Other investigators have recently studied crowding in the prison environment using similar methods. Paulus and coworkers have observed that inmates in dormitories had more negative affect, illness complaints, and higher BP than prisoners in cells (31)(32)(33). Megargee has noted that high density w*b associated with high rates of rhlscflttdilrt in correctional institutions (34).…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

Crowding in Prison: The Relationship Between Changes in Housing Mode and Blood Pressure

D'Atri

Fitzgerald

Kasl

et al. 1981

Psychosomatic Medicine

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The relationship between change in mode of housing and corresponding blood pressure (BP) change was investigated among 568 male prisoners as an analogue to animal studies which have shown that crowding elevates BP. The transfer from single occupancy cells to multiple occupancy dormitories was associated with a statistically significant mean increase in systolic blood pressure (SBP). In contrast, men who remained in single cells had little mean change in SBP over time. Inmates who were retransferred to cells after a short stay in dormitories experienced a mean decline in SBP, which suggests that crowding may be reversible in its early stages. SBP also decreased after continued stay in the dormitories, indicating that adaptation may occur. The implications of these findings for crowding theory and their contribution to an understanding of response to the prison environment are discussed.

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Some Effects of Crowding in a Prison Environment¹

Cited by 62 publications

References 13 publications

Prison Effects in the Era of Mass Incarceration

Prison Effects in the Era of Mass Incarceration

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

Crowding in Prison: The Relationship Between Changes in Housing Mode and Blood Pressure

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Some Effects of Crowding in a Prison Environment1

Cited by 62 publications

References 13 publications

Prison Effects in the Era of Mass Incarceration

Prison Effects in the Era of Mass Incarceration

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

Crowding in Prison: The Relationship Between Changes in Housing Mode and Blood Pressure

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Product

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About

Some Effects of Crowding in a Prison Environment¹