Social Effectiveness and Problem-Solving Thinking of Reformatory Inmates

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that reformatory inmates who are identified by their peers and institutional officials as misfits and disciplinary problems are less able than more successful inmates to address themselves to hypothetical real-life problem situations and to provide solutions to such problems. Using a means-ends story completion technique, differences were found between the performances of inmates judged by peers as misfits (N = 20), inmates judged by officials as disciplinary problems (N = 20), and inmates judged as successful (N = 20) in utilizing institutional resources. The results of this study indicate that problem-solving cognition can discriminate personal-social adjustment.