New research reveals how national perspectives shape attitudes toward transformation, rehabilitation and second chances
A new study, co-authored by Professor Harvey Whitehouse, Director of the Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion, published in the British Journal of Social Psychology, shows how shared experiences influence support for ex-prisoners. Researchers found that while both Americans and Brits become more receptive when recognizing personal transformations, the types of shared experiences that build connection vary significantly between cultures. Based on responses from over 2,000 people with hiring experience across both countries, the findings could inform governments’ and employers’ approaches to reintegration.
Key findings from the study include:
- In the US, narratives of overcoming personal hardship (e.g., losing a loved one) fostered willingness to help ex-prisoners with reintegration by offering them jobs
- In the UK, recognition of a shared social interest (e.g., passion for football/soccer) had similar outcomes while the loss of a loved one had little impact
- Across both countries, participants who had undergone their own life transformations (positive or negative) were more open to hiring ex-prisoners
- Notable US finding: Describing rehabilitative prison conditions (clean, safe, with education programs) rather than tough ones (dirty, dangerous, overcrowded) boosted willingness to hel
Lead researcher, Dr. Linus Peitz, University of Greenwich, said:
The US values redemption arcs - people changing through struggle, but in the UK, participants were more receptive to common ground found in the country's favourite pastime activity. If we want to reduce stigma, reintegration programs need to speak the right cultural language.
Professor Harvey Whitehouse, added:
Despite these differences in cultural contexts, in both cases it was the sharing of personally meaningful experiences that was driving people’s willingness to help ex-prisoners get their lives back on track.
With circa 600,000 people released from prison in the US and 50,000 in the UK annually, these findings suggest:
- Rehabilitation programs could benefit from culturally tailored approaches (emphasise personal growth narratives in the US; draw on community-building approaches in the UK)
- Employers in both countries respond better when they reflect on their own transformative experiences
- Prison conditions themselves affect perceptions of rehabilitation in the US
While American political rhetoric often emphasizes “tough on crime” policies, the study found US participants were less likely to support ex-prisoners from harsh institutions. According to a recent poll by YouGov, 1 in 4 Americans consider US prison conditions ‘inhumane’. Co-author Dr Martha Newson, research affiliate at the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography noted:
Humane prisons actually made Americans more receptive to hiring, they need to see proof of rehabilitation—not just punishment.
Study Methodology:
Controlled experiments with > 2,000 professionals involved in hiring decisions (balanced US/UK samples), examining responses in hypothetical hiring scenarios to:
- Different types of personal narratives (sport or bereavement based)
- Varying descriptions of prison environments
- Priming of participants' own transformative experiences
