16.1.16

Effects of Prison

Test yourself

The Effects of Prison on Criminals: Mental Health

The prison environment can have damaging psychological effects. These include: mental health problems, institutionalisation, reinforcing criminal behaviour, and labelling.

Illustrative background for Method: Illustrative background for Method:  ?? "content

Method:

  • Mental health problems can be a result of being in prison.
  • It has been found by Dooley (1990) that prisoners are more vulnerable to depression and suicide.
    • They studied prison suicides between 1972 and 1987 in England and Wales.
    • The study size was 295 cases out of 300 suicides that had occurred in that time period.
Illustrative background for Results: Illustrative background for Results:  ?? "content

Results:

  • The study found that those who were serving life sentences and those who were imprisoned because of sexual or violent crimes were at most risk for suicide.
  • Dooley determined that there was a relationship between guilt about the crime committed and suicide.
  • Self-harm in the prisoners was common before their suicides.
  • Finally, in about 100 cases (one third) there was a history of psychiatric problems.
Illustrative background for Conclusion: Illustrative background for Conclusion:  ?? "content

Conclusion:

  • There is a relationship between depression and suicides in prison.
  • There was a high contributing factor of depressive illness to suicide.
  • Dooley concluded that to reduce the suicide rates, there need to be better communication between the prisoners and the staff.
Illustrative background for Evaluation: Illustrative background for Evaluation:  ?? "content

Evaluation:

  • This was a non-random study with no control group.
  • It was a selected sample of prisoners.
  • It was also difficult to control for other variables such age, background, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, marital status and employment status.
  • Therefore, it is difficult to accurately determine how much more prone prisoners are to depression and suicide than the general public.
Illustrative background for Stanford Prison experiment Illustrative background for Stanford Prison experiment  ?? "content

Stanford Prison experiment

  • Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison experiment (1973) found that the prisoners, even in a fictional prison setting, experienced high levels of emotional distress.
  • The study was ended early as a result of this distress.
Illustrative background for Research limitations Illustrative background for Research limitations  ?? "content

Research limitations

  • It is important to note that causal effects of prison on depression is difficult to determine.
  • It may be that prisoners were already depressed or at risk for suicide before being placed in prison.

Further Effects of Prison on Criminals

The prison environment can have damaging psychological effects. These include: mental health problems, institutionalisation, reinforcing criminal behaviour, and labelling.

Illustrative background for Institutionalisation Illustrative background for Institutionalisation  ?? "content

Institutionalisation

  • Institutionalisation is when prisoners develop deficiencies or abnormal behaviour as a result of being in prison.
  • Prisoners often have little to no autonomy or independence and so can struggle to become independent once released.
Illustrative background for ExamplesIllustrative background for Examples ?? "content

Examples

  • Zimbardo (1973) in the Stanford prison experiment demonstrated how quickly prisoners (and the guards) become institutionalised.
  • A fictional example would be Red from the Shawshank Redemption; he had difficulty adjusting to life outside prison because he was in prison for so long.
Illustrative background for Reinforcement of criminal behaviourIllustrative background for Reinforcement of criminal behaviour ?? "content

Reinforcement of criminal behaviour

  • Sutherland’s theory of differential association stated that criminal behaviour is learned by associating (being around) criminals.
  • Therefore by being put in prison with other criminals people are more likely to learn other criminal behaviours.
  • Prisons can become breeding grounds for crime (drug smuggling, theft, rape).
Illustrative background for RecidivistIllustrative background for Recidivist ?? "content

Recidivist

  • These criminal behaviours can either be manifested while still in prison or once the offender has been released.
  • Once the prisoner has been released, due to the reinforcement of the criminal lifestyle while in prison, they are more likely to be a recidivist.
Illustrative background for LabellingIllustrative background for Labelling ?? "content

Labelling

  • Finally, an effect of imprisonment is that the person is often labelled as a criminal for the rest of their lives, even if their sentence is short.
  • This labelling could make it difficult for them to resume a normal life, maintain healthy relationships or keep a job.
Illustrative background for ExampleIllustrative background for Example ?? "content

Example

  • A fictional example could be Aleida from Orange is the New Black, who has difficulty finding a job once she has been released from prison because of her criminal record.
Illustrative background for Positives of imprisonmentIllustrative background for Positives of imprisonment ?? "content

Positives of imprisonment

  • It is important to note that there are some potential positive effects of being imprisoned.
    • These include: the criminal experiencing remorse for the crime they committed, having the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves like becoming sober, and being provided new opportunities like an education or job training.

Jump to other topics

1Social Influence

2Memory

3Attachment

4Psychopathology

5Approaches in Psychology

6Biopsychology

7Research Methods

8Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)

9Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)

10Option 1: Gender (A2 only)

11Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)

12Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)

13Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)

14Option 2: Stress (A2 only)

15Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)

16Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)

17Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)

Go student ad image

Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring

  • Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home

  • Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs

  • 30+ school subjects covered

Book a free trial lesson