Reintegration of prisoners into urban society: Between social imprisonment and therapeutic support mechanisms, TMF as a model
Keywords:
reintegration, social stigma, social alienation, self-punishment, urban family, Multiple Family Therapy (MFT)Abstract
This theoretical study examines the social and psychological experiences of formerly incarcerated individuals and their effects on the urban family. Research in urban sociology indicates that released prisoners often confront forms of social stigma, alienation, and self-punishment, which contribute to disconnection from family and community and increase psychological distress. These processes influence not only the individual but also reshape the emotional, social, and economic dynamics of the urban family. Within this context, Multiple Family Therapy (MFT) is presented as a potential intervention for addressing these challenges. By bringing together several families in shared therapeutic sessions, MFT promotes mutual support, facilitates the exchange of experiences, and enhances coping and problem-solving skills. The application of this approach draws on interdisciplinary collaboration between sociology and psychology and accounts for the social pressures and economic vulnerabilities characteristic of urban environments. Integrating sociological and psychoanalytic perspectives may support the reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals into urban spaces, foster a renewed sense of belonging, and reduce the risk of recidivism. This integration also has the potential to strengthen family resilience and social cohesion, contributing to a more supportive and inclusive urban context.
Downloads
References
Arditti, J. (2012). Parental incarceration and the family: Psychological and social effects of imprisonment on children, parents, and caregivers. NYU Press.
Badaracco, F. (1971). Multiple family group therapy: An Argentine perspective. Buenos Aires: Editorial Médica.
Baumeister, R. F. (1997). Self-esteem: The puzzle of low self-regard. New York: Plenum Press.
Benoit, G. (2018). Les enfants et l’expérience carcérale parentale. Presses Universitaires de France.
Brown, T. (2019). Social reintegration of former prisoners. New York: Routledge.
Clear, T. (2007). Imprisoning communities: How mass incarceration makes disadvantaged neighborhoods worse. Oxford University Press.
Comfort, M. (2008). Doing time together: Love and family in the shadow of the prison. University of Chicago Press.
Corrigan, P. W. (2004). How stigma interferes with mental health care. American Psychologist, 59(7), 614–625.
Farrington, D., & Murray, J. (2008). The effects of parental imprisonment on children. Cambridge University Press.
Fassin, D. (2017). Prison worlds: An ethnography of the carceral condition. Polity Press.
Goffman, A. (2015). On the run: Fugitive life in an American city. University of Chicago Press.
Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the management of spoiled identity. Prentice-Hall.
Granjong, P. (2001). La famille: Diversité et continuité dans les sociétés contemporaines. Presses Universitaires de France.
Guerin, P., McFarlane, W., & Szapocznik, J. (2003). The evolution of family therapy approaches. Journal of Family Therapy, 25(1), 10–30.
Johnson, L. (2018). Prisoners and social alienation: Challenges of reentry. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C. (2001). Conceptualizing stigma. Annual Review of Sociology, 27, 363–385.
McFarlane, W. (2016). Multiple family therapy for psychiatric disorders. Guilford Press.
Smith, R. (2020). The psychology of social estrangement. Boston: Academic Press.
Tangney, J. P., & Dearing, R. L. (2002). *Shame and guilt. New York: Guilford Press.
Wacquant, L. (2014). Punishing the poor: The neoliberal government of social insecurity. Duke University Press.
Whitaker, K. (1980). The family as a social system. Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 The International tax journal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
