Does engaging with serious offenders change students' attitude and empathy toward offenders? A thematic analysis

Mae Boag, E. and Wilson, David (2013) Does engaging with serious offenders change students' attitude and empathy toward offenders? A thematic analysis. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, 24 (6). pp. 699-712. ISSN 14789949 (ISSN)

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Abstract

This article considers the role of engagement with prisoners on a one-day carceral tour (prison visit) as a function of reduced prejudice and increased empathy toward offenders. Eight reflexive accounts, completed by final year criminology students approximately two weeks after interacting with convicted serious offenders, prison staff and the prison environment were thematically analysed to locate indices of prejudice and empathy toward serious offenders. Reflexive accounts were examined for content reflective of three temporal points: (i) before the visit, (ii) during the visit and (iii) after the visit. Findings demonstrated that engagement appears to have a positive influence on increased tolerance and empathy toward offenders. However, the increased empathic responding only appeared to be indicative of perspective taking and not empathic concern. Possible explanations and future research directions are discussed as well as implications for training and policy context. © 2013 Taylor & Francis.

Item Type: Article
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1080/14789949.2013.841973
Dates:
DateEvent
December 2013Published
Uncontrolled Keywords: carceral tour, empathy, engagement, HMP grendon, offenders, prejudice, article, empathy, female, human, male, policy, priority journal, prison, prisoner, social psychology, student attitude, thematic analysis
Subjects: CAH15 - social sciences > CAH15-01 - sociology, social policy and anthropology > CAH15-01-02 - sociology
Divisions: Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences > Dept. Criminology and Sociology
Depositing User: Hussen Farooq
Date Deposited: 09 Dec 2016 16:29
Last Modified: 03 Mar 2022 15:56
URI: https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/2541

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