The Value of Dignity in Prison: A Qualitative Study with Life Convicts.

dignity life sentence men personal values prisoners

Journal

Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 2076-328X
Titre abrégé: Behav Sci (Basel)
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 101576826

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
28 May 2020
Historique:
received: 11 04 2020
revised: 19 05 2020
accepted: 26 05 2020
entrez: 3 6 2020
pubmed: 3 6 2020
medline: 3 6 2020
Statut: epublish

Résumé

This research is based on the perspective of dignity according to Chochinov; thus, the life imprisonment of detainees is assimilated to a severe disease. Ten male prisoners were interviewed trough Chochinov's Dignity Therapy, and the results were analysed using thematic analysis. Two areas of thematic prevalence emerged, namely, value of freedom, self-consciousness and education and their failure in jail, and life sentence as annihilation of life meaning and of the values of generativity and family. Life imprisonment has been described in its negativity by several respondents as a punishment worse than the death penalty. It has been compared to death itself, to a terminal illness, to torture and to a pain that grows over the years, with the awareness that despite the passing of time, you will not have the opportunity to return to your loved one and to a free life. In fact, prisoners live out their condition within a space in which any value that gives meaning to life risks being destroyed.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
This research is based on the perspective of dignity according to Chochinov; thus, the life imprisonment of detainees is assimilated to a severe disease.
METHODS METHODS
Ten male prisoners were interviewed trough Chochinov's Dignity Therapy, and the results were analysed using thematic analysis.
RESULTS RESULTS
Two areas of thematic prevalence emerged, namely, value of freedom, self-consciousness and education and their failure in jail, and life sentence as annihilation of life meaning and of the values of generativity and family.
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
Life imprisonment has been described in its negativity by several respondents as a punishment worse than the death penalty. It has been compared to death itself, to a terminal illness, to torture and to a pain that grows over the years, with the awareness that despite the passing of time, you will not have the opportunity to return to your loved one and to a free life. In fact, prisoners live out their condition within a space in which any value that gives meaning to life risks being destroyed.

Identifiants

pubmed: 32481496
pii: bs10060095
doi: 10.3390/bs10060095
pmc: PMC7349769
pii:
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Auteurs

Ines Testoni (I)

Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy.
Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel.

Francesca Marrella (F)

Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy.

Gianmarco Biancalani (G)

Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy.

Paolo Cottone (P)

Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy.

Francesca Alemanno (F)

European and Mediterranean Cultures (DiCEM) Department, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy.

David Mamo (D)

General Adult & Geriatric Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta.

Luigi Grassi (L)

Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences-Università di Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.

Classifications MeSH