Thanks to Bill Forman for sharing this news item from the Globe & Mail. The brief anecdote is an example of being socialized into the devalued role of prisoner, so that the role eventually becomes internalized (Wolfensberger, SRV monograph, 2004, p. 27). This example touches on many elements of role theory, such as the power of expectations, role cues, role activities, etc. In this case, this person chose a devalued role that typically is imposed (Wolfensberger, SRV monograph, 2004, pp. 28-29), which again underscores the power of social roles, valued and devalued.
Marc Tumeinski
The question we may ask is, “Why would he choose to return to prison?” If he feels that prison is a better life for him than freedom…it speaks clearly as to how e-convicts are seriously devalued in our society and have no place to feel understood. How do they transition to attain a positive role in society as a person with a good purpose? Hmm…