Research has shown the importance of prospective thinking in the understanding of individual behaviour across different contexts. However, there has not been extensive attention paid to individuals’ future time perspective (FTP) in non-normative contexts, such as prison, especially using qualitative research methods. In this study, we qualitatively analyse the FTP of 16 Portuguese male prisoners, ranging in age from 24 to 51 years (M = 35, SD = 8 (idem)) and serving sentences from one to 25 years (M = 8.6, SD = 7.3). Through content analysis of data obtained in semi-structured interviews, four main categories emerged: life prior to prison, adaptation to prison, activities in prison, and perspectives concerning the future. Considering the primary features of FTP (content, extension, valence), we determined that prisoners develop FTP in different life domains. However, the extension and emotional valence of their FTP were influenced by the sentence time and perceived social support. The results are discussed regarding the importance of counselling and of the construction of future plans in the context of prison as relevant factors for individual adaptability.
AgnewR (1999) A general strain theory of community differences in crime rates. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency36(2): 123–155.
2.
AndrewsDABontaJ (2003) The Psychology of Criminal Conduct, Cincinnati: Anderson.
3.
BardinL (2008) Análise de Conteúdo [Content analysis], Lisbon: Edições 70.
4.
BarretoML (2006) Depois das grades: Um reflexo da cultura prisional em indivíduos libertos [After prison: A reflex of prisional culture in released individuals]. Psicologia, Ciência e Profissão26(4): 582–593.
5.
BinswangerIASternMFDeyoRAet al. (2007) Release from prison – A high risk of death for former inmates. New England Journal of Medicine356(2): 157–165.
6.
BoydJNZimbardoP (2005) Time perspective, health and risk taking. In: StrathmanAJoiremanJ (eds) Understanding Behavior in the Context of Time. Theory, Research and Application, Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, pp. 85–107.
7.
BurnettRMarunaS (2004) So “prison works”, does it?: The criminal careers of 130 men released from prison. The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice43(4): 390–404.
8.
BushwaySReuterP (2002) Labor markets and crime. In: WilsonJQPetersiliaJ (eds) Crime: Public Policies for Crime Control, Oakland: Institute for Contemporary Studies, pp. 191–224.
9.
CarvalhoRG (2015) Quantitative and qualitative assessment of adolescents’ future time perspectives. Paideia25(61): 163–172.
10.
CarvalhoRGNovoRF (2015) Personality traits, future time perspective and adaptive behaviour in adolescence. Spanish Journal of Psychology18: E19.
11.
CarvalhoRGPocinhoMSilvaC (2010) Comportamento adaptativo e perspetivação do futuro: Algumas evidências nos contextos da educação e da saúde [Adaptive behavior and future time perspective: Some evidence in education and health settings]. Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica/Psychology23(3): 554–561.
12.
ChubickJDRiderCYOwenSM (1999) Time perspective of female prisoners related to success in a training program. Perceptual and Motor Skills88(2): 648–650.
13.
CreswellJW (1998) Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Traditions, California: Sage.
14.
CunhaMP (2008) Prisão e Sociedade: Modalidades de uma Conexão [Prison and society: Modalities of a connection]. In: CunhaMP (eds) Aquém e Além da Prisão. Cruzamentos e Perspetivas, Lisbon: Noventa Graus, pp. 7–32.
15.
DhamiMKAytonPLoewensteinG (2007) Adaptation to imprisonment: Indigenous or imported?Criminal Justice and Behavior34(8): 1085–1100.
16.
DiamondPMWangEWHolzerCEIIIet al. (2001) The prevalence of mental illness in prison. Administration and Policy in Mental Health29(1): 21–40.
17.
GiordanoPCSchroederRDCernkovichS (2007) Emotions and crime over the life course: A neo-meadian perspective on criminal continuity and change. The American Journal of Sociology112(6): 1603–1661.
18.
GonçalvesRA (2008) Delinquência, crime e adaptação à prisão [Delinquency, crime and adaption to prison], Lisbon: Quarteto.
19.
LeBelTPBurnettRMarunaSet al. (2008) The ‘chicken and egg’ of subjective and social factors in desistance from crime. European Journal of Criminology5(2): 131–159.
20.
LensWPaixãoMPHerreraDet al. (2012) Future time perspective as a motivational variable: Content and extension of future goals affect the quantity and quality of motivation. Japanese Psychological Research54(3): 321–333.
21.
LocatelliACBzuneckJAGuimarãesSE (2007) A motivação de adolescentes em relação com a perspetiva de tempo futuro [Adolescents’ motivation as realted to future time perspective]. Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica20(2): 268–276.
22.
MacKenzieDL (2006) What Works in Corrections: Reducing the Criminal Activities of Offenders and Delinquents, New York: Cambridge University Press.
23.
Marques S (2013) Competências de exploração vocacional: um estudo com reclusos [Vocational exploration skills: A study with prisoners]. Master’s Thesis, Instituto Superior de Línguas e Administração de Leiria, Portugal.
24.
MarunaS (2001) Making Good: How Ex-convicts Reform and Rebuild Their Lives, Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
25.
MedlicottD (1999) Surviving in the time machine: Suicidal prisoners and the pains of prison time. Time and Society8(2): 211–230.
26.
MeisenhelderT (1985) An essay on time and the phenomenology of imprisonment. Deviant Behavior6(1): 39–56.
27.
MinayoM (2000) O desafio do conhecimento: pesquisa qualitativa em saúde [The challenge of knowledge: qualitative research in health], São Paulo, Brazil: Hucitec.
28.
MoreiraNA (2008) Sofrimento, desespero e comportamentos suicidários na prisão [Suffering, despair and suicide in prison], Coimbra, Portugal: Quarteto.
29.
Moreira NA (2009) Fatores de risco associados à ideação suicida durante a prisão preventiva: estudo exploratório [Risk factors associated to suicideal ideation during preventive prison]. Master’s Thesis, University of Minho, Portugal.
30.
NuttinJLensW (1985) Future Time Perspective and Motivation: Theory and Research Method, Leuven: Leuven University Press.
31.
ÖhmanA (2005) Qualitative methodology for rehabilitation research. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine37: 273–280.
32.
PanCVazsonyiAT (2011) Future orientation, impulsivity, and problem behaviors: A longitudinal moderation model. Developmental Psychology47(6): 1633–1645.
33.
PeetsmaTvan der VeenI (2011) Relations between de development of future time perspective in three life domains, investment in learning, and academic achievement. Learning and Instruction21(3): 481–494.
PintoGHirdesA (2006) O processo de institucionalização de detentos: perspetivas de reabilitação e reinserção social [The process of institutionalization of prisoners: Perspectives of rehabilitation and social reinsertion]. Escola Anna Nery Revista de Enfermagem10(4): 678–683.
36.
SavickasML (1997) Career adaptability: An integrative construct for life-span, life-space theory. The Career Development Quarterly45: 247–259.
37.
SchillingJ (2006) On pragmatics of qualitative assessment: Designing the process for content analysis. European Journal of Psychological Assessment22(1): 28–37.
38.
Silva CB (2012) A vida de ex-reclusos por suas palavras [Former prisoners’ life in their words]. Master’s Thesis, University of Porto, Portugal.
39.
SnyderCVan WormerKChadhaJet al. (2009) Older adult inmates: The challenge for social work. Social Work54(2): 117–124.
40.
StakeR (2000) Case studies. In: DenzinNKLincolnYS (eds) Handbook of Qualitative Research, London: Sage, pp. 435–454.
41.
TavaresGMenandroPR (2008) Trajetórias de vida de presidiários e possíveis sentidos para a prisão [Life pathways of prisoners and possible meanings for prison]. Psicologia Política8(15): 121–138.
42.
TrommsdorffGLammH (1980) Future orientation of institutionalized and noninstitutionalized delinquents and nondelinquents. European Journal of Social Psychology10: 247–278.
43.
Tscharf C (2009) Educação e formação de adultos em prisões portuguesas [Adult education and training in Portuguese prisons]. Master’s Thesis, University of Aveiro, Portugal.
44.
VisherCAO’ConnellDJ (2012) Incarceration and inmates’ self perceptions about returning home. Journal of Criminal Justice40(5): 386–393.
45.
VisherCATravisJ (2003) Transitions from prison to community: Understanding individual pathways. Annual Review of Sociology29: 89–113.
46.
YinR (2009) Case Study Research: Design and Methods, 4th ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
