Inside–out: Resocialisation From Prison as a Biographical Process. A Longitudinal Approach to the Psychodynamics of Imprisonment1

Abstract

a a PhD, is Senior Researcher at the Criminological Research Institute of Lower Saxony (KFN) , Hannover and teaches Sociology at the University of Hannover, KFN ,

The meaning of agency in processes of desisting from delinquent behaviour in prison: an exploratory study among juvenile inmates in Germany

“…In addition, Kazemian (2007) reminds us of the meaning of situational temptations and opportunities. High selfefficacy and trust in one's own options would on the contrary rather contribute to stable behaviour patterns (Bereswill, 2004;Mulvey et al, 2004). These insights are supported by my previous research that found formerly delinquent immigrants quite quickly desist from former behaviour after arrival, if their agency and motivation are acknowledged and if they receive sufficient support from new inmates and institutions that have been known to regularly compensate for lack of support from the family in the first period after immigration (Zdun, 2012).…”

“…Moreover, although we know that in many countries prison systems are often far from being 'machines of resocialization', youth prisons bear at least a certain potential for clear-cut shifts (Maruna, 2001;Bereswill, 2004). This requires a supportive environment but particularly personal readiness to change.…”

“…On the other hand, it may contribute to improve the very relations with one's social environment before release. This may be useful because this environment has the biggest potential to function as a stabilizer when the individual has to face the obstacles of the outside world again (Bereswill, 2004).…”

“…This includes the above-mentioned research on the effectiveness of different measures of diversion and sanctions, illustrating, for example, in how far they may increase individual skills and competencies as well as self-efficacy (Bereswill, 2004;Cullen et al, 2011). However, this kind of research primarily addresses the likelihood of recidivism (after having participated in these measures) and partly the processes of resocialization; rather increased self-efficacy is considered a result of the intended development and the very process of individual changes is one's agency is neglected.…”

Understanding Violence in the ‘Society of Captives’: Sykes Meets Bourdieu in Prison

“…In what follows, biography is approached from a psychoanalytical perspective as a ‘multi‐layered synthesis; a synthesis of conscious and unconscious impulses and past and present experiences’ (Bereswill 2004a, p.14; cf. Bereswill 2007; Gadd and Jefferson 2007; Koesling and Neuber 2007).…”