A high-security prison is encouraging inmates to watch nature videos - and it's changing their behavior
Thomson Reuters
Dr. Patricia H. Hasbach, a psychotherapist and faculty member at Lewis and Clark College who led the research, noted that nature is necessary for physical and psychological well-being. And although most American inmates can't spend time actually out in nature, getting that indirect contact via video is enough to provide some relief to psychological stress.
In order to test how this might work in the prison system, Hasbach and other researchers studied inmates at The Snake River Correctional Institution in Oregon for an entire year. Half of a 42-person cell block was shown nature videos (images of oceans, the sky, a fireplace, etc.) during their three to four hours of indoor recreation time each week, while the other half wasn't. All the prisoners involved in the research were in solitary confinement.
The research team then conducted inmate surveys and interviews, and presented their findings on August 5. They found that negative emotions like aggression, distress, irritability, and nervousness were all reduced for several hours after the nature videos were viewed.
Prison guards even noticed a difference in the inmates' behaviors and have started using the method as an intervention when they think an inmate is about to act out. Nature videos are now being shown in other parts of the prison, as well.
"We found that inmates who watched the nature videos committed 26 percent fewer violent infractions," said Hasbach, in a statement. "This is equivalent to 13 fewer violent incidents over the year, a substantial reduction in real world conditions, since nearly all such events result in injuries to inmates or officers."
Hasbach and her research team are hoping that this method can be used in the future at other institutions to improve inmate mentality and reduce prison violence, but much more research is needed on more varied populations of prisoners.
- Luxury “floating” beach unveiled in France, termed an “ecological aberration”
- Scientists think they’ve spotted 60 potential alien power plants in the Milky Way!
- Bread, butter, milk-based health drinks, cooking oils classified as ultra-processed food, ICMR advises restriction
- Debt, equity holders approve merger of IDFC with IDFC First Bank
- Sunrisers Hyderabad to take on Punjab Kings as they look to grab the second spot in IPL points table