Prison the false environment

Bushell, Ashley Stephen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5967-2069 (2025) Prison the false environment. In: British Sociological Association Annual Conference 2025: Social Transformations, 23-25 April 2025, University of Manchester, UK. (Unpublished)

Abstract

This abstract reflects on how Prison culture can be identified as a false society. Established ‘norms’ and behaviours within the free world differ significantly from the norms, values and behaviours of those imprisoned. Focusing on the experiences of an experienced offender manager and the ‘outsider’ perspective of observing the adaption of new prisoners to the prison environment and the significant change in personal identity that becomes apparent throughout imprisonment. The research underpins the acceptance and normalisation of violence within the prison environment. This paper argues that the realm of offender management is not alone when trying to reduce the impact of the development of a new cultural identity. The paper contributes to the broader discussion within criminology and sociology on the importance of culture and the development of the ‘false environment’, exploring the changes in personality, societal norms and the adaption of individuals within the prison estate but also the wider world and the significant changes. It is widely accepted and established that hyper-masculine behaviours exacerbated by the ultra-masculine environment led to the normalisation and the ‘social norm’ for violence to be used as a maladaptive behaviour to meet personal needs. The paper will aim to discuss and critique the intersections of the constructed prison environment, and its link to the changed behaviour and norms of individuals imprisoned. The casual link between academic perspectives on prison norms, values and behaviour and the lived experience disconnects the aim to connect practice and academia through an pracademic lens.

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