Graduation Year
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.A.
Degree Name
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Degree Granting Department
Anthropology
Major Professor
Daniel Lende, Ph.D.
Co-Major Professor
Elizabeth Miller, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Elena Lesley, Ph.D.
Keywords
Narrative Healing, Mass Incarceration, Intergenerational Trauma, Secondary Stigma, Secondary Prisonization, Community-Based Interventions, Neuroanthropology, Neurofeedback
Abstract
Existing literature stresses that the far-reaching effects of mass incarceration extend beyond prison walls, profoundly shaping familial experiences. Despite this, families remain consistently overlooked in criminal justice discourse, leading to heightened stress and diminished resilience. This thesis is a program review of a community-based program, referred to here as the Storytelling, Creativity, and Care (SCC) program, to protect the confidentiality of its participants and activities. The SCC program integrates neuroscience and narrative theory to explore how storytelling influences cultural perceptions, shapes lived experiences, and supports psychological and physiological healing. Additionally, this work investigates the socio-political narratives that perpetuate stigma and shame, further entrenching the carceral system’s impact on families. By tailoring interventions to the unique challenges faced by system-impacted families, this review emphasizes the essential role of community-based programs in breaking cycles of recidivism and intergenerational incarceration while amplifying the voices of families to drive healing and social justice.
Scholar Commons Citation
Alexander, Alana, "Narratives of Resilience: The Power of Creative Expression and Community Support during Familial Incarceration" (2024). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/10590
Included in
Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons, Neurosciences Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons
