NCJ Number
12135
Journal
Journal of Social Psychology Volume: 91 Dated: (DECEMBER 1973) Pages: 229-237
Date Published
1973
Length
9 pages
Annotation
EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF INCARCERATION ON A SAMPLE OF YOUNG INMATES, AND CONSIDERATION OF SPECIFIC VALUE DIMENSIONS AND FRIENDSHIP CHOICES.
Abstract
SOME EFFECTS OF THE LENGTH OF INCARCERATION ON THE VALUES AND SOCIOMETRIC CHOICES OF 107 YOUNG MALE INMATES AT A FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION WERE ASSESSED. THE LONGER AN INMATE WAS INCARCERATED, THE LESS WERE HIS VALUES LIKE THOSE THAT THE PRISON STAFF ATTRIBUTED TO AN IDEAL INMATE. VALUES SHOWING DECREASING ACCEPTANCE OVER TIME BY THE INMATES WERE RELIGIOUSNESS, HONESTY, ACHIEVEMENT, AND KINDNESS, WHILE INDEPENDENCE AND LOYALTY INCREASED. IN CONTRAST TO THE RESULTS OF OTHER INVESTIGATIONS, THERE WAS LITTLE EVIDENCE OF A CHANGE TOWARD SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE VALUES AS THE INMATES NEARED RELEASE. ONE OF THE SOCIOMETRIC MEASURES, HOWEVER, SHOWED THAT INMATES TENDED INCREASINGLY TO CHOOSE STAFF AS PEERS AS RELEASE TIME APPROACHED.