ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER
Between Educational Provision and Inner Resistance – A Case Study of Family Socialization as a Determinant of Professional Values in Correctional Settings
by
Elke Brewster 1 
1 School of Education Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria
ABSTRACT
This case study explores the relationship between family socialization and work-related values among inmates in six Austrian prisons. Drawing on the Life Course Approach, the study examines how early socialization experiences may shape inmates’ motivation to engage in vocational training. The investigation employs a census design, capturing all 44 inmates enrolled in vocational training programs (100% participation) and 17 of 22 identified work-refusing inmates (77% response rate) across the six institutions offering VET in January 2023. This represents the complete accessible population during the study period rather than a statistical sample. Findings reveal two distinct value orientations: a growth-oriented pattern emphasizing self-realization and competence among trainees, and a security-oriented pattern focusing on stability and compensation among work-refusing inmates. A notable association between primary socialization experiences and vocational values (β = 0.71, p = 0.002) suggests that biographical factors play an important role, though the cross-sectional design and limited sample size preclude causal inference. The study advocates a biography-sensitive pedagogy in correctional education that acknowledges individual life courses. While generalizability to other institutional contexts requires replication, these findings offer hypothesis-generating insights for developing more differentiated rehabilitation strategies that account for inmates’ diverse socialization backgrounds.
Keywords: Family Socialization, Prison System, Work Values, Rehabilitation, Life Course, Correctional Education
HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE
Brewster E. (2025). Between Educational Provision and Inner Resistance – A Case Study of Family Socialization as a Determinant of Professional Values in Correctional Settings, MAP Social Sciences, 6, 98-112. doi: https://doi.org/10.53880/2744-2454.2025.6.98