Pragmatic and Universal Dimension of Socialisation. Perspective of Experiences of Prisoners – Citizens of Former USSR

Arkadiusz Urbanek

doi:10.15823/p.2014.061

Abstract

The basic aim of these reflections is to answer the question what is the retrospective picture of socialisation processes, as seen by the researched prisoners. Such general issue combines the interpretation of socialisation, perception of its overt and hidden meaning, as well as personal reflection regarding own experiences. Taking the above into account, the author attempted to present individual, biographical experiences of a very specific group, i.e. citizens of Russia and former Soviet republics, whose period of childhood proceeded in the 1970s and 1980s. The interviews were conducted among a group of prisoners currently serving sentence in Polish prisons, but socialised during the period of Soviet Union. The methodological procedure followed qualitative research paradigm, oriented at reconstruction of experiences from the childhood and youth.

Highlights

Selection of the respondent group was intentional and justified, as first of all, these persons were socialised in a social reality that does not exist anymore
Recalling personal experiences must take into consideration specific social and institutional context of the socialisation, the personal experiences present wider context, as they throw light on the distinct social relations and goals hidden behind socialisation activities
Theodor Schülze considered various conventions of biography research, including: a) biography understood as a text written by a person, or about such person written by someone else, b) biography interpreted as a human life engaging analysis of the lifeline, personal experiences and social context of the life course, c) biography that constitutes the process of shaping human’s identity, d) biography that results from typical or specific experiences of a given social group, e) biography as a communicative function regarding human (Schültze, 1999)

Summary

Introduction

Selection of the respondent group was intentional and justified, as first of all, these persons were socialised in a social reality that does not exist anymore. While conducting research with the prisoners their answers refer to the memories, and current situation, which in their case is unusual as they were influenced by the social reality and a system that no longer exists, and their examination of socialisation effects is specific.

Results

Conclusion