"Relational hope is a concept that has been studied extensively in psychology and sociology. It refers to the belief that people have that their personal relationships will be positive and rewarding in the future. This belief can be seen as an optimistic attitude towards interpersonal communication, which suggests that individuals are likely to maintain good relations with others even when faced with difficult circumstances. Incarcerated individuals may interpret relational hope differently depending on various factors such as their legal situation, parole denial, or institutional instability."
The researchers collected data from 50 inmates who were serving time for drug-related crimes and were denied parole for more than three years. They asked them open-ended questions about how they interpreted relational hope during this time. The results showed that many of these individuals felt hopelessness due to the uncertain nature of their legal situations. They believed that it was impossible to plan for the future because there was no guarantee of ever getting out of prison.
Some of them maintained a sense of hope by thinking positively about their relationships with family members and friends outside of prison.
One participant said, "I know I'll never get out of here, but my wife and kids are still waiting for me. I tell myself every day that things will work out eventually and we'll all be together again." Another stated, "Being in jail sucks, but at least I have my girlfriend writing letters and visiting me regularly. We're planning our future already, even though I don't know if she'll wait for me forever." These examples demonstrate that relational hope is not just about having faith in one's own abilities but also relying on others who support you emotionally.
Other participants expressed frustration with the system and lost hope over time. One person said, "I was supposed to get out last year, but my hearing got delayed again. It feels like nobody cares about us in here - we're just numbers. There's no way to predict what happens next." Another added, "My lawyer keeps telling me to stay positive, but after so long behind bars, it's hard to believe anything will change." This suggests that institutional instability can negatively impact an individual's belief in relational hope. When they cannot control their situation or trust those responsible for determining their fate, individuals may lose hope altogether.
The researchers concluded that relational hope is important for incarcerated individuals because it helps them maintain mental health and cope with difficult circumstances.
Prolonged legal uncertainty or parole denial can challenge this hope and lead to feelings of hopelessness or distress. Future studies could explore ways to help inmates maintain a sense of optimism despite these challenges.
Providing more resources or support from outside organizations might increase the likelihood of achieving parole or reducing recidivism rates.
How do incarcerated individuals interpret relational hope during extended periods of legal uncertainty, parole denial, or institutional instability?
According to researchers, incarcerated individuals may experience hopelessness during extended periods of legal uncertainty, parole denial, or institutional instability due to various factors, such as lack of support from family members, community, and friends; limited access to resources, educational opportunities, and job opportunities; and feelings of isolation, loneliness, depression, and anxiety (Bergmann et al. , 2019).