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Altruism Behind Bars: Sharing, Justice, Perspective Taking and Empathy Among Inmates

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Abstract

Anecdotal stories suggest that inmates engage in altruistic acts to partially compensate for past criminal behaviour. Little research has investigated this phenomenon. In this study, we used the dictator game—a measure developed in experimental economics—to assess inmates’ and non-inmates’ altruistic behaviour. Furthermore, we examined whether personal belief in a just world (BJW), perspective taking and empathy predicted altruistic behaviour. Our sample was comprised of 50 male inmates and 50 age-matched non-inmates. Results showed that inmates displayed more altruistic behaviour and higher empathy compared to non-inmates. In addition, in inmates altruistic behaviour was positively predicted by BJW and perspective taking, whereas in non-inmates altruistic behaviour was positively predicted by empathy. Theoretical and practical implications are further discussed.

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Notes

  1. By using the term “inmate”, we do not want to suggest that incarcerated people are one specific “type” of person or label them in a negative way.

  2. Category D prison refers to ones where inmates are deemed to pose relatively little risk of harm to the public and are less likely to escape. As can be seen from our sample, however, the range of offences and prison sentence can vary considerably.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Hannah Mehigan and Shona Wang for help in data collection; Becky Choma and two anonymous reviewer for comments on earlier drafts; Anita Todd for editorial assistance; and all participants and the prison authorities for making this study possible.

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  1. School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK

    Michaela Gummerum & Yaniv Hanoch

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  1. Michaela Gummerum
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  2. Yaniv Hanoch
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Correspondence to Michaela Gummerum.

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Gummerum, M., Hanoch, Y. Altruism Behind Bars: Sharing, Justice, Perspective Taking and Empathy Among Inmates. Soc Just Res 25, 61–78 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11211-012-0149-8

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