Keeping violent offender rehabilitation on track: How mutual focus and emotional entrainment actually work in the GRIP program

• In Event: 3255 - Section on the Sociology of Body and Embodiment Refereed Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 1. Emotion, Affect, and Bodily Practice

Abstract

There is a paucity of audiovisual data allowing for microsociological investigations into what constitutes operational excellence in evidence-based prison rehabilitation programs. Informed by interaction ritual theory, we use audiovisual data and conversation analysis to interrogate the inner workings of GRIP—a yearlong violent offender rehabilitation program spreading through the California state prison system. We demonstrate how sequenced instances of rhythmic entrainment actually work by enabling the diffusion and redirecting of attentional focus and mood. These two easily overlooked processes are foundational to the formation of each new GRIP ‘tribe’ and to inmates’ confidence in the possibility of personal transformation.

Authors

• Bowen Paulle, Univ of Amsterdam

• Alex van der Zeeuw, University of Twente