| There is evidence of an association between self-esteem and deviant behavior, incarceration and treatment; but its nature is unclear. In this study, patterns of change in self-esteem as a function of correctional treatment were investigated. Using two tests (Coopersmiths Self-Esteem Inventory and Osgood's Semantic Differential), self-esteem was measured at entry to the program, midway, and before release for samples from the Glen Mills School and custodial and non-custodial comparison groups. (A short version of the Moos Social Climate Scale and a measure of treatment time were also collected for the two institutional groups.) Scores on the two instruments, both intended to measure self-esteem, were uncorrelated. The results indicate that institutionalization does not produce a significant drop in self-esteem and that juveniles in correctional treatment exhibit a low to high change pattern of self-esteem as measured by the Cooper-Smith Self-Esteem Inventory. Additionally, semantic differential results indicate that the "ideal self" of the institutionalized youth does not become more aligned with either his friends' or the staffs' view of himself. Although the data suggest correctional treatment may affect self-esteem, more detailed investigation of the nature of this change is needed. |
