Social identity and stigmatization in the context of coping behavior among prisoners: А theoretical model

Context and relevance. In this paper, coping behavior of convicted individuals is examined through the lens of stigmatization as a key stress factor. Social identity acts as a dual mechanism determining the choice of coping strategies: it can serve as a resource that mitigates the effects of stigmatization, or as a factor that reinforces destructive behavioral patterns. Objective. To present a theoretical analysis of the role of social identity in the processes of coping with stigma-related stress in the penitentiary environment. Theoretical framework. Stigmatization is conceptualized as a form of identity threat that triggers processes of cognitive appraisal and coping. Social identity, following H. Tajfel's definition, is understood as the individual's knowledge of their membership in social groups, combined with the emotional and value significance attached to that membership. The stigmatization model is integrated into a modified transactional model of stress. Results. It is demonstrated that convicted individuals, as a stigmatized group, face a dual challenge: external stigma and internal self-stigmatization. Identification with the group of convicted individuals can perform both a "healing" and a "cursing" function. Concealable stigma creates an additional stressor context associated with the need to manage information about one's group membership. Conclusions. The problem of integrating the construct of stigmatization into research on coping behavior of convicted individuals is formulated, and directions for addressing it are proposed, with an emphasis on the multiplicity of social identities and the quality of group ties as a buffering mechanism. The novelty of the proposed approach is substantiated, lying in the integration of a modified coping-with-identity-threats model and a multiple-identity model to explain the choice of coping strategies in the penitentiary environment.

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