Imprisoned fathers: narratives of inmates about the experience of fatherhood in prison
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2016.4.23413Keywords:
Fatherhood, Prison, Interactive narrative, Psychoanalysis.Abstract
Considering the growth of the Brazilian prison population and the fact that the imprisonment impacts not only the prisoner, but also their relatives, we investigate the paternal experience of 41 inmates serving time in a penitentiary of Sao Paulo. As a qualitative approach we used an Interactive Narrative followed by a group discussion, to explore the affective-emotional meanings that the experience of fatherhood may take in prison. The children are featured as an incentive to change the inmate’s life, and as main emotional support in this condition of vulnerability. Feelings of guilt, impotence and regret set the tone for the participants’ narratives, beyond the concern with their children’s future. Contentious marital relationships and institutional demands contribute to weaken the father-son bond. This study indicates the potential benefits that the strengthening of familial bonds may revert to the well being of the children and to the social reintegration of the inmate.
Downloads
References
Arditti, J., Smock, S.A., & Parkman, T. S. (2005). It´s been hard to be a father: A qualitative exploration of incarcerated fatherhood. Fathering, 3(3), 267-288. http://dx.doi.org/10.3149/fth.0303.267
Boswell, G., & Wedge, P. (2002). Imprisoned fathers and their children. New York: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2206.2002.t01-1-00258.x
Clarke, L., O’Brien, M., Day, R.D., Godwing, H., Connolly, J., Hemmings, J., & Leeson, T. (2005). Fathering behind bars in English prisons: Imprisoned fathers identity and contact with their children. Fathering: A Journal of Theory, Research, and Practice about Men as Fathers, 3(3), 221-241. http://dx.doi.org/10.3149/fth.0303.221
Codd, H. (2008). In the shadow of the prison: families, imprisonment and criminal justice. London: Routledge DEPEN (2015). Departamento Penitenciário Nacional. Disponível em: http://portal.mj.gov.br/data/Pages/MJC4D50EDBPTBRNN.htm
Dyer, W. J. (2005). Prison, fathers and Identity: A theory of how incarceration affects men’s paternal identity. Fathering: A Journal of Theory, Research and Practice about Men as Fathers, 3(3), 201-219. http://dx.doi.org/10.3149/fth.0303.201
Edin, K., Nelson, T. J., & Paranal, R. (2001). Fatherhood and incarceration as potential turning points in the criminal careers of unskilled men. In M. Pattillo, D. Weiman, & B. Western (Eds.), Imprisoning America: The social effects of mass incarceration (pp. 46-75). New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
Goffman, E. (1982). Estigma: Notas sobre a manipulação da identidade deteriorada. Rio de Janeiro: Zahar.
Granato, T. M. M. & Aiello-Vaisberg, T. M. J. (2011). Uso terapêutico de narrativas interativas com mães em situação de precariedade social. Psico, 42(4), 494-502.
Granato, T. M. M. & Aiello-Vaisberg, T. M. J. (2013). Narrativas interativas sobre o cuidado materno e seus sentidos afetivo-emocionais. Psicologia Clínica, 25(1), 17-35.
Granato, T. M. M. & Aiello-Vaisberg, T. M. J. (2016). Interactive Narratives in the investigation of the collective imaginary about motherhood. Estudos de Psicologia, 33(1), 25-35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-02752016000100004
Granja, R., Cunha, M. P., & Machado, H. (2013). Formas alternativas do exercício da parentalidade: Paternidade e maternidade em contexto prisional. Ex aequo, 28, 73-96.
Hairston, C. F. (1998). The forgotten parent: Understanding the forces that influence incarcerated fathers relationship with their children. Child Welfare, 77(5), 617-639.
Hairston, C. F. (2001). Fathers in prison: Responsible fatherhood and responsible public policies. Marriage & Family Review, 32(3-4), 111-135. http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J002v32n03_07
Hairston, C. F. (2002). Prisoners and families: parenting issues during incarceration. In The from prison to home conference (pp. 42-54). Prepared for the Department of Health and Human Services by the Urban Institute: Washington, DC.
Houghton, A. J. M. & Navarro, A. (2014). Incarcerated fathers and their children: effects of a reciprocally connected relationship. Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations. California State University. http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J002v32n03_07
Lanier, C. (1993). Affective states of fathers in prison. Justice Quarterly, 10(1), 49-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07418829300091701
Lanier, C. (1995). Incarcerated fathers: a research agenda. Forum on Correction Research, 7(2), 34-36.
Lee, C., Sansone, F. A., Swanson, C., & Tatum, K. M. (2012). Incarcerated fathers and parenting: Importance of the relationship with their children. Social Work in Public Health, 27, 165-186. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2012.629902
Maldonado, S. (2006). Recidivism and paternal engagement. Family Law Quarterly, 40(2), 191-211.
Mapson, A. (2013). From prison to Parenting. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 23(2), 171-177. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2013.747402
McGrath, J. (2007). Fathering from prison: An exploration of the experiences and perceptions of a group of men in Montjoy prison. Doctoral dissertation. Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland.
Melo, S. de O. (2013). O impacto da reclusão na esfera familiar da vida dos indivíduos encarcerados. Dissertação de mestrado. Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação. Universidade do Porto, Portugal. Mumola, C. J. (2000). Incarcerated parents and their children. U.S. Department of Justice: Bureau of Justice Statistics. Washington, D.C. NCJ 182335.
Oliveira, G. V. (2010). Sanção penal e família: diálogos e possibilidades. Monografia apresentada ao Conselho Nacional de Política Criminal e Penitenciária – CNPCP por ocasião do Concurso Anual de Monografias. Ormeño, G. R., Maia, J. M. D., & Williams, L. C. A. (2013). Crianças com pais ou mães encarcerados: uma revisão da literatura. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychology, 4(2), 141-161.
Silva, M. F (2007). Presidiários: percepções e sentimentos acerca de sua condição paterna. Dissertação de mestrado. Faculdade de Psicologia. Pontifícia Universidade Católica Campinas, São Paulo.
Stake, R. (2011). Pesquisa Qualitativa: estudando como as coisas funcionam. Porto Alegre: Penso.
Swanson, C., Lee, C., Sansone, F., & Tatum, K. (2012). Prisoner’s perceptions of father-child relationships and social support. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 37(3), 338-355.
Winnicott, D. W (2000). A preocupação materna primária. In D. W. Winnicott. Obras escolhidas: Da pediatria à psicanálise (pp. 399-405). Rio de Janeiro: Imago. (Original publicado em 1956).
Winnicott, D. W. (2007). Teoria do relacionamento paterno-infantil. In D.W. Winnicott. O ambiente e os processos de maturação (pp. 38-54). Porto Alegre: Artmed. (Original publicado em 1960).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright
The submission of originals to Psico implies the transfer by the authors of the right for publication. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication. If the authors wish to include the same data into another publication, they must cite Psico as the site of original publication.
Creative Commons License
Except where otherwise specified, material published in this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license, which allows unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is correctly cited.
