The discrepancy between externally attributed functions and subjective meanings of sport in prison

Abstract

Introduction and Theoretical Background

The correctional laws of various jurisdictions stipulate that imprisoned people should have the opportunity to regularly engage in sports. In Germany, approximately half of all male prisoners in closed prisons regularly participate in organized sports programmes (Müller & Mutz, 2023). Within the German correctional system, organized prison sport is primarily justified by its presumed contribution to rehabilitation. Official guidelines and institutional documents describe sport as an essential component of rehabilitative imprisonment and socio-therapeutic treatment, contributing to one of the central objectives of incarceration. In the academic literature, this understanding has been conceptualized as treatment-oriented sport (Müller & Schröder, 2023).

Building on these functions externally attributed to sport, a multi-year research project reconstructed the subjective meaning that male prisoners attribute to sport in closed correctional facilities (Müller, 2024). The study is grounded in social constructivism (Berger & Luckmann, 1993) and informed by prison sociology, particularly Goffman’s (1973) concept of the total institution and Sykes’ (1958/1974) concept of the pains of imprisonment, which served as the main theoretical framework.

Methods

An ethnographic research design was employed. Over three years, data were collected through participant observation, ethnographic group conversations, and 19 semi-structured interviews with male prisoners serving sentences ranging from 18 months to 11 years. Access to the field was gained through a sports programme conducted by the researcher. Data were analysed using Grounded Theory coding procedures (Strauss & Corbin, 1996).

Results and Discussion

The findings show that prisoners primarily experience sport as a coping strategy that alleviates the pains of imprisonment by creating moments of perceived freedom and helping them cope with fear, loneliness, boredom, and psychological distress. Sport also serves as a means of constructing masculinity, enhancing self-esteem, and negotiating social status within the prison hierarchy.

In contrast, none of the participants associated prison sport with social learning, personal development, or rehabilitation. Rather, prisoners assign meanings to sport that are closely tied to the realities of imprisonment and largely independent of the functions officially attributed to it. The findings therefore reveal a marked discrepancy between institutional expectations and prisoners’ subjective experiences of sport. The presentation discusses this discrepancy and its implications.

References

Berger, L.B. & Luckmann, T. (1993). Die gesellschaftliche Konstruktion der Wirklichkeit. Eine Theorie der Wissenssoziologie. Fischer.

Goffman, E. (1973). Asyle. Über die soziale Situation psychiatrischer Patienten und anderer Insassen. Suhrkamp.

Müller, J. (2024). Sport in der totalen Institution. Eine Gefängnisethnographie. Springer VS.

Müller, J. & Mutz, M. (2023). Sport und Gesundheit im hessischen Strafvollzug. Abschlussbericht. Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen.

Müller, J. & Schröder, J. (2023). Behandlung im Strafvollzug: Sportmaßnahmen. In J. Endres & S. Suhling (Hrsg.), Behandlung im Strafvollzug. Ein Handbuch für Praxis und Wissenschaft (S. 563-576). Springer VS.

Strauss, A.L. & Corbin, J. (1996). Grounded Theory: Grundlagen qualitativer Sozialforschung. Beltz.

Sykes, G.M. (1958/1974). The Society of Captives: A Study of a Maximum Security Prison. Princeton University Press.