Summary: | 碩士 === 國立中正大學 === 犯罪防治研究所 === 101 === Purpose. This study focuses on the psycho-social factors of male prisoners' practice of genital beading in the correctional institutions. Criminological literatures have shown that sexuality is an important issue in the study concerning prisoners. Since there is considerable population who had genital beading among prisoners, I suggest that the psycho-social factors of this common practice is closely connected to their family background and the environment where they live and grow up.
Methodology. In this study, I adopt both the qualitative and quantitative approaches. On the one hand, I conduct the semi-structured interview with 7 prisoners who are the experienced practitioners of genital beading. On the other hand, researcher conduct the questionnaire to collect the background information of male prisoners in the Chayi Detention Center, and analyze the data from 118 valid samples using phenomenological method.
Findings. First, the psychological motivation for those prisoners to have genital beading can be attributed to "curiosity," "conformity," "boredom," and "conquest mentality," while the impact of the physical image of body is not evident. Second, those who practice genital beading deviate from normal sexual cognition in general, such as having extramarital sexual relationship. The myth of genital beading to boost sexual potency is also prevalent. These psycho-related factor, interacting with many social and cultural ones, finally lead to the actual practice of genital beading.
Moreover, I analyze the practice of genital beading in terms of temporal and spatial factor. First, most of the genital-beading prisoners have had sexual experiences as early as in adolescence, which, driven by the carnal desire, can be regarded as what scholars call "crises" in the psycho-social development. Second, most of the genital-beading prisoners belong to the lower-middle class, whose lifestyle and working enviroment are deeply associated with the subculture, and some of whom even walk on the edge of the law. In addition, the unsupportive learning environment, exacerbated by the temptation of delinquent companions, leads to their deviant and even criminal behavior. The most relevant factor in this study turns out to be the prison subculture. During the procedure of judicial corrections, prisoners are exposed to the environment conducive to genital beading, and therefore determine to take action.
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