Philosophy in Prison An exploration of personal development

279 Pages·2017·3.39 MB·English

by  Kirstine Szifris

Philosophy in Prison

An exploration of personal development

Kirstine Szifris
Robinson College

December 2016

This dissertation is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
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 This dissertation is the result of my own work and includes nothing which is the outcome of work done in
collaboration except as declared in the Preface and specified in the text.
 It is not substantially the same as any that I have submitted, or, is being concurrently submitted for a degree
or diploma or other qualification at the University of Cambridge or any other University or similar institution
except as declared in the Preface and specified in the text. I further state that no substantial part of my disserta-
tion has already been submitted, or, is being concurrently submitted for any such degree, diploma or other quali-
fication at the University of Cambridge or any other University or similar institution except as declared in the
Preface and specified in the text
• It does not exceed the prescribed word limit for the relevant Degree Committee

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When all you’ve got is a hammer, everything looks like nails.
(“A Hammer”, from the album “Everybody Down” by Kate Tempest)
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Table of Contents
Abstract ..................................................................................................................................................... xi
Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................ xiii
List of figures ..................................................................................................................................................... xv
Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................................................... xv
Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 2
On the use of the male pronoun .......................................................................................................... 7
Chapter 1
Philosophy, education and identity................................................................................................ 8
1.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................................................. 8
1.2 What is philosophy? ............................................................................................................................. 8
1.3 A Community of Philosophical Inquiry ..................................................................................... 11
1.4 Prison education as personal development ........................................................................... 15
1.5 Contemplations of identity ............................................................................................................ 20
1.5.1 Philosophical explorations of identity .............................................................................. 21
1.5.2 Defining ‘identity’ ....................................................................................................................... 23
1.5.3 Prisoners as the ‘experiencing subject’ ............................................................................ 24
1.5.4 Presentations of the self and ‘survival’ ............................................................................. 25
1.5.5 Personal development and ‘growth’ ................................................................................. 27
1.6 Discussion .............................................................................................................................................. 33
1.7 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 34
Chapter 2
Methodology, Methods and Participants .................................................................................. 35
2.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 35
2.2 Adaptive theory ................................................................................................................................... 36
2.3 Positioning myself as teacher-turned-researcher ................................................................ 37
2.4 Research design .................................................................................................................................. 39
2.5 Focussing the research problem ................................................................................................. 41
2.6 The research context ......................................................................................................................... 42
2.7 Research participants ........................................................................................................................ 44
2.8 Developing and delivering a CoPI in prison .......................................................................... 47
2.8.1 Course delivery ........................................................................................................................... 47
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2.9 Methods .................................................................................................................................................. 50
2.9.1 Negotiating entry into the field and recruiting participants .................................. 51
2.9.2 Observational fieldwork notes ............................................................................................. 51
2.9.3 Interviewing participants......................................................................................................... 53
2.9.4 Quantitative Measures ............................................................................................................. 54
2.9.5 Participant feedback ................................................................................................................. 55
2.9.6 Ethics ................................................................................................................................................ 56
2.9.7 Piloting the research design ................................................................................................. 57
2.10 Data analysis and developing theory ..................................................................................... 58
2.11 Triangulation, validation and reflexivity ................................................................................. 59
2.12 Locating the researcher at the heart of the process ....................................................... 61
2.14 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 64

Chapter 3
Understanding Context: Prison, Prisoners and Personal Development ....................... 66
3.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 66
3.1.1 Populations ................................................................................................................................... 67
3.1.2 Themes ........................................................................................................................................... 69
3.1.3 Locating the research ............................................................................................................... 70
3.2 Prison and the prisoner experience ........................................................................................... 75
3.2.1 Pains and deprivations in prison life ................................................................................. 75
3.3 Culture, environment and relationships ................................................................................... 80
3.3.1 Survival, adaptation and coping .............................................................................................. 85
3.4 Discussion: An enabling environment? Survival vs. Growth ........................................... 88
3.5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 92
Chapter 4
Grendon: It’s all about content .................................................................................................... 94
4.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 94
4.2 The therapeutic environment ........................................................................................................ 95
4.2.1 HMP Grendon .............................................................................................................................. 97
4.3 Data collection and course delivery in Grendon ............................................................... 100
4.4 Developing a more ‘open mind’ ............................................................................................... 102
4.4.1 Open-mindedness: In their own words ......................................................................... 104
4.4.2 How does philosophical conversation develop an open mind? ........................ 106
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4.3.4 Abstract conversations and personal realisations ..................................................... 112
4.5 Philosophy in Grendon .................................................................................................................. 117
4.6 Community, coping and self-understanding ....................................................................... 120
4.7 Discussion: Philosophy in the context of therapy ............................................................. 125
4.8 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 127
Chapter 5
Full Sutton: It’s all about context ............................................................................................... 129
5.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 129
5.2 HMP Full Sutton ................................................................................................................................ 130
5.3 Participation and recruitment ..................................................................................................... 133
5.4 Course delivery .................................................................................................................................. 135
5.4.1 Developing community through contribution and collaboration ...................... 135
5.4.2 Fostering positive dialogue ................................................................................................. 139
5.5 Trust ........................................................................................................................................................ 142
5.6 Relationships and community .................................................................................................... 146
5.7 Dialogue and philosophical content ........................................................................................ 148
5.8 Improved wellbeing and self-expression ............................................................................... 154
5.9 Towards an enabling environment and a growth identity? .......................................... 160
5.10 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................... 164
Chapter 6
Philosophy and personal development ................................................................................... 166
6.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 166
6.2 Identity, identity formation and the ‘person in context’ ................................................ 167
6.3 Methodological approach ............................................................................................................ 172
6.4 Delivering a CoPI: Growing community and emerging dialogues ............................. 174
6.5 Findings: Wellbeing, trust, relationships and open-mindedness ................................ 176
6.5.1 Wellbeing ..................................................................................................................................... 177
6.5.2 Trust ............................................................................................................................................... 178
6.5.3 Relationships and emergent community ...................................................................... 181
6.5.4 Open-mindedness ................................................................................................................... 184
6.5.5 Summary of findings .............................................................................................................. 187
6.5.6 Content, structure and philosophical dialogue .......................................................... 188
6.6 Discussion: Internal articulation and external validation ................................................ 191
6.7 Contribution and relevance ......................................................................................................... 193
6.8 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 195
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Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 197
A final word ..................................................................................................................................................... 203
Bibliography ........................................................................................................................................ 204
Appendices .......................................................................................................................................... 240
Appendix I: Teaching Materials .............................................................................................................. 241
Ship of Theseus: A Philosophical Paradox .................................................................................... 242
Compassion, Kant and the Categorical Imperative .................................................................. 243
Bentham, Mill, and the Happiness Machine ................................................................................ 245
Hume, Arendt and Baginni .................................................................................................................. 249
Art (FS only) ................................................................................................................................................ 252
Free Speech ................................................................................................................................................ 254
Appendix II - Qualitative data collection tools ............................................................................... 256
Pre-course Informal Interview Schedule ........................................................................................ 256
Post-participation Interview Schedule ............................................................................................ 256
Feedback forms......................................................................................................................................... 258
Appendix III – Quantitative data ............................................................................................................ 260

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