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Item On LIFE within the Society-of-Captives : exploring the pains of imprisonment for real : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand(Massey University, 2024-12-12) Luff, Daniel JohnInstitutional and social discourse upholds the prison as an effective rehabilitative solution to crime, but more recently there has been increasing criticism of the prison as a producer of harm rather than healing. Despite such criticism, discussions of the rehabilitative potentials of prisons predominantly exclude and silence insider, incarcerate voices in criminal justice debates and literature, and often do not describe what those ‘inside’, like me, are living and experiencing. The primary aim of this project is to theorise twenty years of lived experience of incarceration in the hope of contributing to the work being done to problematise risk-averse, harmful correctional practices. Through a deeply reflexive autoethnographic performance, the reader comes with me beyond prison walls, into the largely closed off, inaccessible world within. Through navigation of my lived experience of imprisonment, I reflexively theorise memories of incarceration that are usually only speculated upon through objective, exclusionary research. The account that emerges from theorising incarceration ‘for real’ analyses the constraints of political narratives and risk averse policy and practice produced within our prison system, and within the bodies that system contains. Through an interweave of autoethnographic field noting, performance and analysis, the research unpacks the connections between the structural, socio-political issues, and the pains of incarceration. Using Arrigo’s Society of Captives (SOC) thesis, the harms being produced are theorised with regard to subjectivities constituted through prison – the prisoner, their guard, and society at large. Theoretical storying shows how socio-political issues are having considerably detrimental impacts on correctional policy and practice. Prisoners are neither seen nor heard, and their keepers too are held captive, unable to engage with their charges ethically lest they be reprimanded for doing corrections differently. Through this multi-layered harm, a society of captives is being perpetuated within which the very harm and risk it proclaims to alleviate is reproduced. Embedded in a pursuit of social justice, I argue for a relational, ethical praxis wherein people are seen, and heard, for real. The change is not only theorised but rare instances of it, and the healing power it produces, demonstrated. Through autoethnography’s theoretical praxis, and embracing of the SOC thesis’ pursuit of becoming, my research also involves considerable personal movement. It illustrates how, through the utilisation of autoethnographic methodology, in particular reflexive process, it becomes possible to ethically resist harmful representations and risk-focused correctional practices. In making these movements the research brings us out of prison, and provides in-depth consideration of my bodily attempts to reintegrate into the community after two decades of largely harmful carceral experiences. In these, the narrative contributes to a growing consciousness, global debate, and movement regarding prison, rehabilitation, and how community safety is best served. And it contributes to a process of becoming within me, a bodily movement, a transition into a place where humanness can be done differently…Item Health and health promotion and applied health psychology in sexual and stigmatized minority populations : a collection of papers and a monograph presented in application for the degree of Doctor of Science at Massey University(Massey University, 2019) Ross, Michael W.In a career lifetime of working in both universities and in and with health departments, my work in applied psychology has dealt with stigmatized sexual minorities (particularly MSM) in many countries and settings, including before, during, and after the main impact of the AIDS epidemic (which in many locations and populations is still epidemic or in a subsequent “wave”). Applied health psychology must of necessity make use of many opportunities that cannot be planned in advance, or of situations where study of stigmatized groups is both dangerous (for them and for researchers) and difficult. The unifying theme in this DSc is the stigmatized minority group, the stigmatized disease, and the stigmatized setting. Massey University provided the training for the first “bookend” of my career at its beginning, and this dissertation as the second “bookend” some 45 years later of a career of surprises, opportunities, and challenges – some of the better parts of which are reflected in these pages.Item An evaluation of a job seeking skills programme for prison inmates : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in psychology at Massey University(Massey University, 1990) Young, Lucille MThis research is concerned with the evaluation of a Job Seeking Skills (JSS) programme at Manawatu Prison. Three groups of four JSS participants responded to questionnaire measures of self-esteem, social anxiety and fear of negative evaluation at pretest, posttest and at a six week follow-up. Self-esteem increased but no change occurred on measures of social anxiety and fear of negative evaluation. Subjects also took part in videotaped simulated job interviews at pretest and posttest. Subjects decreased their response latency, but no significant changes were noted on other behavioural measures. Despite this, subjects were rated as significantly more socially skilled and more employable at their posttest interviews. Improvements were also noted on ratings of appearance and question answering. Although subjects reported a decrease in anxiety in interview, ratings of anxiety by external raters did not indicate significant improvement.Item Is there a relationship between substance use disorders and violent offending? : a case study of Rimutaka and Wellington male prisoners : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Rehabilitation at Massey University(Massey University, 2007) Jones, AmandaNew Zealand imprisonment per capita rates are second only to the USA with continued growth expected in the next decade. Previous research and extensive personal work experience within the prison system suggests that there is a connection between Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and crime. The main object of this study was to investigate and ascertain if there is a relationship between occurrences of SUDs and violent offending. This is a complex question, as it is unlikely that SUDs are the only determinants of violent offending. Demographics, ethnicity, education and other environmental and psychological factors will also be contributing factors. The current study tests SUDs and 'other factors' to see if a relationship exists. Two hundred prisoners from Rimutaka and Wellington Prisons were randomly selected from a possible sample size of 850. The 102 respondents who chose to take part in the study were administered the Substance Use Disorders Diagnostic Schedule (SUDDS-IV). Seventy of these 102 prisoners were in prison for having committed a violent offence. A demographic questionnaire followed the psychometric test. Surprisingly, SUDs (both substance abuse and substance dependence), were not found to be statistically more significant in prisoners that had offended violently. Overall, SUDs were found in 99% of the entire population. Eighty-four percent diagnosed with substance dependence and a further 8.8% with substance abuse. Only 6.9% did not have a SUD at all. Fifty-eight percent of the sample investigated identified themselves as Maori, 26.5 European and 13.7% Pacific Islanders. This study found that those imprisoned for a violent conviction were more likely to be Maori. In addition, it illustrated that the prisoners convicted for violence were more likely to have only two years secondary school education or less. Evidence also shows that Maori studied were less likely to be educated. However, such findings require more validation for use as evidence in prisoner research. Further research could include a qualitative approach with emphasis on Maori with limited education and a propensity to be violent. This research would be beneficial if directed towards the unique lives of New Zealand prisoners, their families and specifically the children of the established offenders. The main objective would be to provide information about the next generation of violent offenders. The data and intelligence gathered could be then utilised to better manage and treat violent offenders.Item Traumatic brain injury and substance use in a prison population : lifetime prevalence rates and neuropsychological sequelae : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University(Massey University, 1995) Barnfield, Tracey VThe present study investigated the rates of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and substance use in a prison population, and the effect of these on neuropsychological functioning. The study was conducted in two parts. In the first part, responses to a screening questionnaire indicated that 86.4% of the 118 subjects had sustained TBI, 56.7% reported more than one TBI, and Maori subjects sustained 12 % more TBI than non-Maori. Subjects reported higher rates of illicit substance use than the general population, and Maori reported higher substance use than non-Maori. All subjects reported difficulties with general memory and socialisation on a Problem Rating Scale, but no differences were found in the level of difficulties reported due to severity of TBI sustained. Subjects with more severe substance use histories reported experiencing most problems with interpersonal relationships, family, and finances. In part two, 50 subjects from the original sample with a history of TBI and/or substance use, completed neuropsychological measures of short and long term verbal and visual memory, learning, information processing, motor speed and co-ordination, executive functioning, and malingering. All subjects performed below norms on tests of verbal memory and verbal abstract thinking, but overall, no differences were found due to either severity of TBI or level of substance use. Maori subjects obtained the lowest scores on tests of verbal ability, but also reported higher rates of TBI and substance use, which is presumed to account for this result. In conclusion, prison populations seem to have a disproportionably high TBI rate, recurrent TBI rate, and substance use rate, compared to the general population. Further, there are a group of individuals who have experienced both TBI and substance abuse, and consequently have impairments in verbal memory and learning, abstract thinking, and report problems with general memory and socialisation. These difficulties should be taken into account, since they may affect functioning both in prison and following release.Item Helpseeking among prison inmates : a test of the theory of planned behaviour : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University(Massey University, 2003) Skogstad, PhilipPrison inmates are more likely than those in the general population to experience psychiatric disorders and related problems such as suicidal thinking, but are less likely to have contact with mental health services. The current study examined factors that could facilitate professional helpseeking in New Zealand prison inmates. Two versions of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) formed the theoretical basis for the study. The first was the standard TPB with attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control as determinants of helpseeking intentions, and behaviour. An extended version of the TPB included these variables and also the effects of inmates' prior contact with a psychologist, and their current emotional distress on helpseeking intentions and behaviour. A TPB helpseeking questionnaire was developed and trialled with a sample (n = 52) of male New Zealand prison inmates from one prison. Inmates at six other prisons (n = 515) then completed the final questionnaire, which assessed attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and intentions to seek help from a prison psychologist. Participants' helpseeking was monitored over the following year through Corrections Psychological Service databases. Of the 419 inmates who were followed up, 88 were referred to a prison psychologist, which provided a proxy measure of helpseeking behaviour. The standard TPB explained up to 44% of the variance in prison inmate intentions to seek help for a "personal-emotional problem", and up to 33% of the variance for intentions to seek help for "suicidal feelings". Helpseeking attitudes and subjective norms were consistent and strong determinants of helpseeking intentions, whereas perceptions of behavioural control with respect to seeing a psychologist had a weak relationship with helpseeking intentions. There was some support for the extended version of the TPB model. The explained variance in helpseeking intentions increased slightly with the addition of prior contact and emotional distress to the model. Prior contact and emotional distress were associated with higher intentions to seek help, although the strength of these relationships varied according to which version of the TPB was tested. The standard and extended versions of the TPB had low predictive capacity for actual helpseeking as reflected in referral to a prison psychologist. General attitude (in one regression equation), age and prior contact with a psychologist were the only independent predictors of helpseeking behaviour. Inmates who sought help tended to have more favourable helpseeking attitudes. Prior contact with a psychologist was an approach factor for seeking help for a personal-emotional problem and for helpseeking for suicidal feelings. Age was the strongest predictor of helpseeking behaviour, in that older inmates were more likely than others to actually seek referral to a prison psychologist. The most striking finding for the current study was that contrary to the TPB model, intentions to seek help did not predict helpseeking behaviour for either emotional or suicidal problems. Recommendations are made regarding future TPB-based helpseeking research. Interview responses from the pilot study indicated that male-role characteristics, therapist gender and psychologists' cultural knowledge may influence inmates' willingness to seek psychological help. It may be fruitful for future TPB-based helpseeking studies to incorporate these aspects of helpseeking. It is also suggested that future helpseeking studies within a TPB framework further develop the subjective norm construct to include possible stigma concerns that inmates experience. The current study used an indirect measure of helpseeking behaviour, and suggestions are made to improve the prediction of helpseeking behaviour from the TPB. Specifically, the behaviour measure could incorporate other sources of help approached by inmates when they experience significant personal problems, and could detail the type of problems that prompt actual helpseeking. Finally, recommendations are made regarding prison-based interventions to improve inmate helpseeking.Item Literacy in Corrections Inmate Employment : a thesis presented in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Communication Management at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand(Massey University, 2008) Artemiev, RosalieThis thesis investigates literacy in prison-based employment training provided by Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE), a Government Training Establishment, in New Zealand. The descriptive case study aims to provide an understanding of literacy in CIE. It does this by combining existing research with information gained from participant observation and staff and prisoner interviews at the Central Kitchen and the Print Shop at men’s prisons in Wellington. The thesis suggests that engagement with literacy in these CIE workplaces depends on whether it is safe or suitable to participate in workplace literacy activities; whether there is an opportunity to participate (including access to specialised support services like literacy programmes); and whether prisoners are interested in or see benefits from participating. For CIE to be more effective – both in providing a base for meaningful employment and lifelong learning – employment training needs to be offered in areas in which prisoners are interested, in tandem with embedded support services like literacy and numeracy training programmes.