The Value of Dignity in Prison: A Qualitative Study with Life Convicts
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: Ten male prisoners were interviewed trough Chochinov’s Dignity Therapy, and the results were analysed using thematic analysis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/10/6/95 |
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| author | Ines Testoni Francesca Marrella Gianmarco Biancalani Paolo Cottone Francesca Alemanno David Mamo Luigi Grassi |
| author_facet | Ines Testoni Francesca Marrella Gianmarco Biancalani Paolo Cottone Francesca Alemanno David Mamo Luigi Grassi |
| author_sort | Ines Testoni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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: Ten male prisoners were interviewed trough Chochinov’s Dignity Therapy, and the results were analysed using thematic analysis. 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: 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:33:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e4be56a477f04913839015503f320bfc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:33:12Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-e4be56a477f04913839015503f320bfc2023-11-20T01:58:59ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2020-05-011069510.3390/bs10060095The Value of Dignity in Prison: A Qualitative Study with Life ConvictsInes Testoni0Francesca Marrella1Gianmarco Biancalani2Paolo Cottone3Francesca Alemanno4David Mamo5Luigi Grassi6Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, ItalyEuropean and Mediterranean Cultures (DiCEM) Department, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, ItalyGeneral Adult & Geriatric Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malta, 2080 Msida MSD, MaltaInstitute of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences—Università di Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyBackground: 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: Ten male prisoners were interviewed trough Chochinov’s Dignity Therapy, and the results were analysed using thematic analysis. 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: 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/10/6/95dignityprisonersmenlife sentencepersonal values |
| spellingShingle | Ines Testoni Francesca Marrella Gianmarco Biancalani Paolo Cottone Francesca Alemanno David Mamo Luigi Grassi The Value of Dignity in Prison: A Qualitative Study with Life Convicts Behavioral Sciences dignity prisoners men life sentence personal values |
| title | The Value of Dignity in Prison: A Qualitative Study with Life Convicts |
| title_full | The Value of Dignity in Prison: A Qualitative Study with Life Convicts |
| title_fullStr | The Value of Dignity in Prison: A Qualitative Study with Life Convicts |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Value of Dignity in Prison: A Qualitative Study with Life Convicts |
| title_short | The Value of Dignity in Prison: A Qualitative Study with Life Convicts |
| title_sort | value of dignity in prison a qualitative study with life convicts |
| topic | dignity prisoners men life sentence personal values |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/10/6/95 |
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