Ines Testoni1,2, Francesca Marrella1, Gianmarco Biancalani1, Paolo Cottone1, Francesca Alemanno3, David Mamo4, Luigi Grassi5. 1. Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy. 2. Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel. 3. European and Mediterranean Cultures (DiCEM) Department, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy. 4. General Adult & Geriatric Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta. 5. Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences-Università di Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This research is based on the perspective of dignity according to Chochinov; thus, the life imprisonment of detainees is assimilated to a severe disease. METHODS: Ten male prisoners were interviewed trough Chochinov's Dignity Therapy, and the results were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Two areas of thematic prevalence emerged, namely, value of freedom, self-consciousness and education and their failure in jail, and life sentence as annihilation of life meaning and of the values of generativity and family. CONCLUSIONS: Life imprisonment has been described in its negativity by several respondents as a punishment worse than the death penalty. It has been compared to death itself, to a terminal illness, to torture and to a pain that grows over the years, with the awareness that despite the passing of time, you will not have the opportunity to return to your loved one and to a free life. In fact, prisoners live out their condition within a space in which any value that gives meaning to life risks being destroyed.
BACKGROUND: This research is based on the perspective of dignity according to Chochinov; thus, the life imprisonment of detainees is assimilated to a severe disease. METHODS: Ten male prisoners were interviewed trough Chochinov's Dignity Therapy, and the results were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Two areas of thematic prevalence emerged, namely, value of freedom, self-consciousness and education and their failure in jail, and life sentence as annihilation of life meaning and of the values of generativity and family. CONCLUSIONS: Life imprisonment has been described in its negativity by several respondents as a punishment worse than the death penalty. It has been compared to death itself, to a terminal illness, to torture and to a pain that grows over the years, with the awareness that despite the passing of time, you will not have the opportunity to return to your loved one and to a free life. In fact, prisoners live out their condition within a space in which any value that gives meaning to life risks being destroyed.
Entities:
Keywords:
dignity; life sentence; men; personal values; prisoners
Authors: Carmen Scalise; Fabrizio Cordasco; Matteo Antonio Sacco; Valerio Riccardo Aquila; Pietrantonio Ricci; Isabella Aquila Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-07-10 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Ines Testoni; Erika Iacona; Cecilia Corso; Sara Pompele; Laura Dal Corso; Hod Orkibi; Michael Alexander Wieser Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2021-04-16