Negative Trends, Possible Selves, and Behavior Change: A Qualitative Study of Juvenile Offenders in Residential Treatment

This study uses Stein and Markus’ (1996) self-concept and behavior change framework to examine youth offenders’ responses to individual-level treatment in a residential correctional facility. The authors analysed transcripts collected from 10 male offenders, aged 15-17, who were interviewed at least...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Qualitative social work : QSW : research and practice 2005-06, Vol.4 (2), p.175-196
Main Authors: Abrams, Laura S., Aguilar, Jemel P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavior
Criminality
Males
Offenders
Qualitative Methods
Residential Institutions
Self Concept
Youth
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Summary:This study uses Stein and Markus’ (1996) self-concept and behavior change framework to examine youth offenders’ responses to individual-level treatment in a residential correctional facility. The authors analysed transcripts collected from 10 male offenders, aged 15-17, who were interviewed at least three times over a period of four to six months. Results showed that while many offenders were able to identify negative trends in their life that led to their criminal behavior, other cognitively filtered out self-defeating information and did not identify troubling life patterns. Offenders also articulated visions of hoped for selves that were anchored in their lived experiences with positive role models and feared the selves that they might become if they continued down a criminal path. However, nearly all of the offenders had loosely organized or vague strategies for achieving their hoped for or idealized selves. Based on these findings, the authors pose implications for self-concept theory and for treatment practices with this population group.
ISSN:1473-3250
1741-3117
DOI:10.1177/1473325005052392