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Prisoner Confrontations and the Search for Respect

Bibliographic Data

ID8402525
AuthorsMichelle Butler (0000-0002-6983-6215, corresponding author)
Year2008
Volume48
Issue6
Pages856-873
Publication date2008-08-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe British Journal of Criminology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0007-0955 • E-ISSN: 1464-3529
PublisherOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/bjc/azn053
OpenAlexW2012790748
LanguageEN
Citations received12
References cited35

This article examines the occurrence of fi ghts, assaults, arguments and threats of violence between adult male prisoners in an English category C prison. The self-narratives of 40 men are analysed to investigate whether some prisoners engage in more confrontations than others due to a psychological need to protect their identity. The fi ndings indicate that how an individual understands and constructs their self-narrative can infl uence their involvement in aggressive behaviour. Implications for interventions attempting to reduce aggression are explored. In March 2000, Zahid Mubarek was beaten to death by his cellmate in Feltham Young Offenders ’ Institution. However, homicide represents an extreme form of aggression and is generally a rare occurrence amongst the prisoner population ( Dooley 1990; Sattar 2001; 2004). Instead, fi ghts, assaults, arguments and threats of violence (referred to here as confrontations) appear to be a frequent part of prison life ( King and

Aesthetics · Aggression · Art · Criminology · Identity (music) · Literature · Narrative · Prison · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Child Abuse and Trauma · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology

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