Do We Still See the Human? Public Perceptions of People Incarcerated in America

Abstract

There is a longstanding history of people incarcerated in U.S. prisons being portrayed as fundamentally different than the rest of society. Importantly, this perceived difference has often extended beyond legal status or criminal behavior to encompass assumptions about moral worth and humanity. The current study assesses whether the public believes that people incarcerated possess a variety of humanistic qualities. That is, does the public still “see the human” in someone incarcerated? Or do they see someone who is deficient of any humanistic traits? The results reveal most Americans believe people incarcerated possess qualities like care for others and guilt. The implications of this work take on added salience given that approximately 95% of people who go to prison are released.