The life-view of death row male incarcerates: Towards a specialized counseling/psychotheraphy program

• Main Author: Ebona, Cirilo Edgar V.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2004
• Subjects: Death row inmates; Prisoners > Death; Imprisonment > Psychological aspects; Counseling; Educational Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/55; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_doctoral/article/1054/viewcontent/CDTG003784_P.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Death is a universal human catalyst that when put into contact with any cultural order, precipitates the central beliefs, concerns and life view of individuals. How does this life-view become transparent against the background of death? For a person facing death penalty, what is his life-view? Death row is a unique subculture. The study aimed to describe and qualitatively analyze the life-view of the ten death row incarcerates. Socio-demographic data and criminal history were included. The study reveals that typical death row incarcerate is in early adult stage, born to a poor family, deprived of economic and educational benefits. Qualitative descriptive method was used through case study, in-depth interview, note-taking, and non-participant observation in gathering data. Qualitative thematic analysis on life-view themes of the death row incarcerates was performed. Emerged life-view themes included themes of poverty and aggression, family support and altruism, peer support, spiritual strength, fatalism, quest for truth, and justice. Proposed specialized counseling/psychotherapy program included life-view therapy, forgiveness therapy, family and group therapy, stress management, skills training/educational interventions. Establishment of clinical counseling/psychotherapy center inside the death row manned by a professional counselor and program of action that addresses incarcerates' psychological problems. Likewise future expanded research to determine the interface of death psychology and correctional psychology were recommended.