ABSTRACT
Chapter 5 lays out a framework to conceptualize the process of desistance and positive growth in prison. This chapter details the elements of the adversarial growth framework, and provides an overview of prior research that has applied this paradigm to the prison setting. It also examines how prison misconduct may not always be the best indicator of desistance from crime, given that rule violations may be inherent to the restrictive prison environment. In addition, the chapter also underlines the importance of distinguishing between situational and persistent threats to harm in the prison setting. Looking beyond behavioral outcomes, the framework presented in this chapter highlights the fact that the root cause of violence is related to one’s internal suffering.
