Date of Award

8-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College/School

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department/Program

Psychology

Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair

Tina Zottoli

Committee Member

Tarika Daftary-Kapur

Committee Member

Michael Bixter

Committee Member

Laura Abrams

Abstract

This qualitative study examined psychosocial maturation among individuals sentenced to life imprisonment for offenses committed during adolescence. Archival interview and survey data were analyzed for 30 men who had been resentenced and released after serving an average of 31 years in prison. Findings revealed a developmental progression across four stages: pre-incarceration, initial incarceration, catalysts for change, and later incarceration. Participants described entering prison with developmental immaturity compounded by trauma, unstable home environments, educational disruption, and antisocial peer influence. Their early years of incarceration were marked by anger, fear, misconduct, and survival-oriented behavior. Over time, participants identified discrete events and ongoing processes, including mentorship, religion, therapeutic intervention, loss, and major institutional experiences, as catalysts that initiated, supported, or reinforced psychosocial maturation. During later incarceration, participants reported greater emotional regulation, responsibility, empathy, healthy relationships, service to others, and identity transformation. These findings suggest that meaningful psychosocial development can occur during long-term incarceration, although participants often described change as gradual, cumulative, and delayed. The results support greater consideration of developmental change in correctional programming, parole review, sentencing, and reentry planning.

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