Less coercion, more connection: Cultural intelligence and mental health in the correctional (eco-)system

• In Event: The importance of alternatives: Mental health and wellbeing in correctional contexts

Abstract

The correctional system is often characterised by psychological distress, radicalisation, and violence, affecting both inmates and correctional staff. Cultural Intelligence offers a concrete alternative to coercion by enhancing intercultural understanding, reducing staff burnout, and fostering more effective rehabilitation programs. Through Cultural Intelligence, correctional officers can accurately interpret cultural behaviors, prevent conflicts, and provide more targeted psychological support. This competence not only prevents and mitigates the risk of radicalisation, but also contributes to creating a more humane and safer correctional (eco-)system. Investing in Cultural Intelligence means contributing to transforming prisons from places of alienation into an ecosystem of rehabilitation, while improving the well-being of all involved actors.

Author

• Arije Antinori, Sapienza University of Rome