The Dynamics of Desistance by Deirdre Healy

Author:Deirdre Healy [Healy, Deirdre]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780415628051
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2012-03-20T00:00:00+00:00

Agency, ambiguity and ambivalence

The fact that desisters were more likely to regard their possible selves as achievable implies that they had higher levels of self-efficacy and feelings of control over their lives. Strong motivation and perceived self-efficacy are vital for successful reform (Burnett 2004). Maruna (2001) suggested that ex-offenders are more optimistic than offenders about their futures. To explore this, the narratives of the Irish sample were examined for the presence of ‘agency’, using a coding manual pioneered by McAdams (1995) and utilised by Maruna (2001). Using this definition, a ‘language of agency’ appeared to be absent from participants’ narrative accounts (see Healy and O’Donnell 2008). In total, the scripts of 35 participants had evidence of agentic themes; the remaining 14 had none. The average number of agentic themes per script was low (M = 1.08, SD = 0.89) and there were no significant differences between offenders and desisters. This suggests that ex-offenders do not experience high levels of agency, at least in the early stages of change.

McAdams (1993) classified agency into four components linked to themes of self-mastery, victory, achievement and empowerment. In other words, only individuals who had experienced personal success were classed as having agency. It is perhaps unsurprising that this form of ‘agency as achievement’ was not present among the Irish sample, given that the majority had yet to experience many life successes. Only a minority of the sample had successfully achieved conventional ‘adult’ identities. Just 10 participants were engaged in full-time employment, and social welfare payments constituted the primary source of income for many (37 per cent). Some found it difficult to support themselves or their families, with 38 per cent (n = 28) reporting that they found it difficult to pay for basic necessities sometimes or often. Another marker of adulthood involves leaving parents’ home, establishing a long-term relationship and starting a family. At the time of the interview, 37 participants still lived in the family home. Their achievements in relation to children were more substantial. Of the 38 who had children 26 reported that they had regular contact and a good relationship with them.

If adult identities are difficult to achieve, as is suggested by these findings, ex-offenders may need to exercise more agency in order to remain committed to their goals and to achieve desistance. This, in conjunction with higher levels of self-efficacy, should eventually lead them to a more successful adult identity. Desisters’ accounts suggested that they were more likely than offenders to adopt an agentic approach to life. This contrast can be seen from the following two examples. The first was desisting and the second was still involved in crime. Ian’s probation officer told him about job opportunities in drugs counselling. On discovering that his employment prospects need not be limited to low-skilled jobs, he decided he wanted to train as a drugs counsellor. He grasped the opportunity that was offered and maintained an ongoing commitment to his goal. At the time of the interview, he was working as an unpaid volunteer in a drug rehabilitation programme in order to gain the necessary work experience.

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