NCJ Number
57293
Date Published
1977
Length
129 pages
Annotation
USING THE CONCEPTS OF TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS, RESEARCHERS CONSTRUCTED PROFILES OF 13 WOMEN AT THE KENTUCKY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION FOR WOMEN. COUNSELING AND RELIGIOUS OPPORTUNITY IMPLICATIONS ARE DRAWN.
Abstract
WITHIN THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS, A 'LIFE SCRIPT' IS DEFINED AS 'AN ONGOING PROGRAM, DEVELOPED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD UNDER PARENTAL INFLUENCE, WHICH DIRECTS INDIVIDUALS' BEHAVIOR IN THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THEIR LIFE.' AUTONOMY IS THE OPPOSITE OF SCRIPT. AUTONOMOUS PERSONS ARE SCRIPT-FREE AND CAN REVERSE THEIR GUILTS, FEARS, ANGERS, HURTS, AND INADEQUACIES AND START OVER. THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF SCRIPTS--WINNER, NONWINNER, AND LOSER. THE 'WINNER' SCRIPT IS FULFILLED WHEN THE ACTOR ACCOMPLISHES WHAT HE INTENDS IN LIFE; THE 'NONWINNER' WORKS HARD BUT MANAGES TO STAY EVEN INSTEAD OF PROGRESSING TOWARD HIS GOAL; THE 'LOSER' CONSTANTLY DEFEATS HIMSELF BY BEHAVIOR THAT DENIES HIM THE GOALS HE HAS SET FOR HIMSELF. THIS STUDY HYPOTHESIZES THAT THE SAMPLE OF 13 WOMEN INTERVIEWED AT KENTUCKY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION HAVE 'LOSER' LIFE SCRIPTS. THE GROUP (6 BLACK, 7 WHITE) WAS SELECTED FOR INTERVIEWS FROM A PRISON POPULATION OF 128 WOMEN IN 1977. FOLLOWING THE ADMINISTERING OF THE SCRIPT CHECKLISTS TO THE SUBJECTS, RESEARCHERS DISCUSSED ANSWERS WITH EACH. ON THE BASIS OF THE FINDINGS, IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE SUBJECTS DO HAVE 'LOSER' SCRIPTS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING COMMON ELEMENTS: (1) BIRTH ASSOCIATED WITH FAMILY STRESS AND TRAGEDY; (2) NEGATIVE SELF-IDENTITIES AT AN EARLY AGE; (3) FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS UNSTABLE IN CHILDHOOD; (4) FAVORITE CHILDHOOD 'GAMES' PREDOMINANTLY 'GETTING CAUGHT' GAMES; (5) MALE RESCUERS AS HEROES; (6) FATHERS WHO ARE VIEWED AS UNLOVING; (6) MOTHERS WHO ARE VIEWED AS NONASSERTIVE; AND (7) PERCEPTION OF SUCCESS IN LIFE AS CONFORMING TO TRADITIONAL SEX ROLE EXPECTATIONS AND FAILURE AS NOT CONFORMING TO SEX ROLE EXPECTATIONS AND/OR IMPRISONMENT. IMPLICATIONS OF THESE FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED FOR COUNSELING STRATEGIES AND THEOLOGICAL CONCEPTS DEVELOPED BY THE PRISON CHAPLAIN IN INTERACTION WITH INMATES OF THIS PROFILE. THE APPENDIX PROVIDES A SAMPLE OF THE SCRIPT CHECKLIST, INTERVIEW NOTES, AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE SUBJECTS. DATA AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)