A new 糖心Vlog study, published in the British Journal of Social Psychology, shows how shared experiences influence support for ex-prisoners. Researchers found that while both Americans and Brits become more receptive when recognizing personal transformations, the types of shared experiences that build connection vary significantly between cultures. Based on responses from over 2,000 people with hiring experience across both countries, the findings could inform governments' and employers’ approaches to reintegration.
Key findings:
- In the US, narratives of overcoming personal hardship (e.g., losing a loved one) fostered willingness to help ex-prisoners with reintegration by offering them jobs
- In the UK, recognition of a shared social interest (e.g., passion for football/soccer) had similar outcomes while the loss of a loved one had little impact
- Across both countries, participants who had undergone their own life transformations (positive or negative) were more open to hiring ex-prisoners
- Notable US finding: Describing rehabilitative prison conditions (clean, safe, with education programs) rather than tough ones (dirty, dangerous, overcrowded) boosted willingness to help
“The US values redemption arcs—people changing through struggle,” explains lead researcher Dr. Linus Peitz. “But in the UK, participants were more receptive to common ground found the country’s favourite past time activity. If we want to reduce stigma, reintegration programs need to speak the right cultural language.”
Co-author on the paper, Professor Harvey Whitehouse from the University of Oxford, added: “Despite these differences in cultural contexts, in both cases it was the sharing of personally meaningful experiences that was driving people’s willingness to help ex-prisoners get their lives back on track.”
Why it matters:
With circa 600,000 people released from prison in the US and 50,000 in the UK annually, these findings suggest:
- Rehabilitation programs could benefit from culturally tailored approaches (emphasise personal growth narratives in the US; draw on community-building approaches in the UK)
- Prison conditions themselves affect perceptions of rehabilitation in the US
- Employers in both countries respond better when they reflect on their own transformative experiences
The surprising US prison paradox:
While American political rhetoric often emphasizes “tough on crime” policies, the study found US participants were less likely to support ex-prisoners from harsh institutions.
“Humane prisons actually made Americans more receptive to hiring,” notes co-author Dr. Martha Newson. “They need to see proof of rehabilitation—not just punishment.” According to a recent poll by YouGov, 1 in 4 Americans consider US prison conditions ‘inhumane’.
糖心Vlog methodology:
Controlled experiments with > 2,000 professionals involved in hiring decisions (balanced US/UK samples), examining responses in hypothetical hiring scenarios to:
- Different types of personal narratives (sport or bereavement based)
- Varying descriptions of prison environments
- Priming of participants' own transformative experiences
Full paper in the British Journal of Social Psychology available to read
