Coping, Behavior, and Adaptation in Prison Inmates

This is the report of a longitudinal study of 122 inmates in the Ontario Region of the Correctional Service of Canada which assessed the effects of imprisonment, coping skills, and how prisoners' behavior changed over time. The analysis showed that the interaction of external and internal factors determines individual behavior. Many inmates experienced severe distress at the beginning of a prison term, but imprisonment did not produce much generalized or lasting emotional disturbance. However, some individuals continued to be disturbed even well into their prison terms. In addition, the data showed very little positive behavioral change in prison. Prison thus represents a unique environment with effects that are as varied as those of any major life change on a disparate group of individuals. Prisons did not affect coping abilities, thereby freezing prisoners both behaviorally and developmentally. Findings indicate the need for major changes in what inmates experience in prison. They need programs to teach coping skills and more attention on transferring new skills to life on the outside after release. Until this happens, the effects of prisons will be small and recidivism will be high.