NCJ Number
103255
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 50 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1986) Pages: 55-59
Date Published
1986
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The relationship between psychological defense systems and the apparent failure of the threat of capital punishment to deter was examined in structured interviews with 34 (of 43 contacted) North Carolina death-row inmates.
Abstract
About half of the inmates had prior records; nearly half had histories of substance abuse, although none blamed their predicament on this. All but about 10 percent were convicted of murder or felony murder. About half described their family and/or interpersonal relationships as supportive or strong. Although all were classified as violent offenders, their histories, personalities, and behavior in prison did not show them to be violent or even threatening. Predominant among these men's defenses was denial: protestations of innocence, usually coupled with refusal to discuss any aspect of the offense and distancing from it. Projection and rationalization were prominent features of their explanations of the conviction. Explanations included framed, lesser intent, and guilt by association. Subjects showed little identification with other death-row inmates. Anxiety and depression were not prominent, and few expressed remorse or guilt. Results suggest that the propensity for denial among these men made them view themselves as unlikely to murder and, consequently, to be undeterred by the threat of execution. 13 footnotes and 5 tables.