It's (not) just time : the lasting effects of incarceration on identity : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

Abstract

This thesis explores the impact of incarceration on identity, examining how it is shaped by the experience of time. This is explored through a move between repetitive, linear institutional time and subjective, non-linear temporalities. Employing an autoethnographic approach that integrates personal narratives with the theories of Deleuze, Butler, and Foucault, this study demonstrates how prison extends beyond physical and temporal boundaries to reshape identities and life trajectories long after release. Through the concept of “temporal friction”, a conceptualisation of Deleuze’s three syntheses of time, the thesis explores how temporalities dynamically influence incarcerated people’s sense of self. Temporal friction manifests through routine disruptions, enforced performativity, coping strategies, resistance, and power dynamics, which all contribute to reshaping identities. The study also highlights how the roles of grief, loss, guilt, and shame intensify the challenges of incarceration. The thesis proposes “temporal justice” as a framework to address and remedy the disproportionate temporal effects of criminal justice systems. By advocating for a radically reimagined approach to incarceration that considers the temporal penalties extending beyond the prison sentence, this discussion contributes to sociological, criminological, and criminal justice discourses. It challenges existing narratives and proposes a transformative approach that recognises the dynamic interplay between time, identity, and power.