Journal article
Harmony within the walls: Perceptions of worthiness and competence in a community prison choir
International Journal of Music Education, Vol.30(1), pp.46-56
02/2012
DOI: 10.1177/0255761411431394
Abstract
Based on theories that low self-esteem is related to criminal activity (Oser, 2006) and high self-esteem derives from competence and worthiness (Harter, 1985; Mruk, 2006), this study measured changes in community singers’ attitudes toward prisoners and documented changes in prisoner singers’ perceptions of their social competence. Participants included 22 prisoners and 22 community members over a 12-week choral program in a medium-security Midwest state prison. Community members completed an Attitudes Toward Prisoners Scale (ATPS) before meeting the prisoners and after the group’s concert. All answered open-ended questions summarizing the choir experience. Results indicated a significant difference (p < .01) between pre- and post-measurements on the community singers’ ATPS. Two categories emerged from the open-ended answers: relationships with others and self-gratification. Five subcategories under relationships with others emerged from prisoner singers’ data: feeling respected, getting along with others, making friends, connecting to something outside prison, and improving family relationships.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Harmony within the walls: Perceptions of worthiness and competence in a community prison choir
- Creators
- Mary L Cohen - University of Iowa, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- International Journal of Music Education, Vol.30(1), pp.46-56
- DOI
- 10.1177/0255761411431394
- ISSN
- 0255-7614
- eISSN
- 1744-795X
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications; London, England
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/2012
- Academic Unit
- School of Music; Teaching and Learning
- Record Identifier
- 9983993491702771
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