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PREDICTING GENERAL IDEOLOGICAL ORIENTATIONS: THE CASE OF PRISONERS

J. Prorokovic

Abstract

The main goal of this research was to analyze the difference in general ideological orientations between the free citizens and those that are currently incarcerated, as well as to identify the principal predictors of their ideological position among the examined socio-demographic variables. The initial hypothesis of the research was that the convicted citizens are a distinctive group, not only by their socio-demographic profile, but their social, political, moral and religious view of the world. The study included 189 subjects, covering both sexes, with the average age of 37, 6. The sample was partially convenient, consisting of 87 participants currently serving time within the Croatian prison system and 89 free citizens, none of which have previously served time. The survey requested from the participants to provide their socio-demographic characteristics, after which the GLIO questionnaire (General Left-Wing Ideological Orientations) was applied (Prorokovi?, 2015). The results showed a significant difference in general ideological orientation between the prisoners and the free citizens. Prisoners demonstrated a lower degree of the left general ideological orientation than free citizens. Among the obtained socio-demographic variables, participants' level of education, their parents' level of education and their religious position proved as significant correlates of the general ideological orientations. With the rise of education (both in participants’ and their parents’ education), the GLIO degree was higher, just as it was higher in participants who don't consider themselves religious. Furthermore, the predictability of some socio-demographic variables was different between the two groups. In the case of prisoners, the only significant predictor of the general ideological orientation was their level of education, while in the case of free citizens, several significant predictors were found: age (the older participants are greater „leftist“), parenting (those who have children are more left oriented) and household income (lower income - more „leftist“).

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgemsocial2017/33/S12.066

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