The process of incarceration and migration

The process of incarceration and migration

The process of incarceration and migration causes turmoil in the emotional being of people. The shift from a society where one belongs has family and enjoys immense freedom to the position of an outsider for immigration causes emotional strain. On the other hand, the process of shifting from freedom, ability to engage, travel and be part of a family to being tied in prison causes emotional strain. The two concepts and changes in personal lives cause emotional instability and the development of new outlooks depending on the physical location of the people. The self which involves the emotional being changes in the process of interaction with others such as border patrol officials. The construction of self depends immensely on the interactions as negative interaction causes withdrawal from the generalized society. In the process of immigration and incarceration, abuse and uncertainty are critical in the process of deconstructing the aspect of belonging and developing the emotions of an outsider while emotions change from acceptable emotions to immense management of emotions in the prison systems.

In the systems of incarceration and immigration, the unique process creates unique emotions of belonging and outsider, which is illustrated in the symbols. The aspect of belonging is adequately deconstructed and an aspect of outsider constructed as both an immigrant or imprisoned person. The process of imprisonment and immigration causes the shift from a moral to an immoral person in the perspective of the public as captured by symbols in the host nation. As Vega explains, “Agents take pride in guarding the state against ‘criminals’ and ‘terrorists’, the archetypes used by politicians to conflate unauthorized immigration with terrorism and drugs. However, the practice of immigration control contrasts starkly with its legislative politics” (2017, p.2544). At the borders, the agents limit the entry of people under the assumption that they are criminals. However, the population seeking stability and opportunities is often higher than the people seeking to commit crimes. The emotional shame and guilt contribute to the shift from belonging to the outsider. The emotions of both prisoners and immigrants move from being accepted by many to live in fear of hate and view as a bad person. Thus, the self goes through a process of transitioning from confidence to shame and guilt at all times. Although the display of belonging and outsider are symbolic in the physical aspect as one has moved from one culture to another, the self is most affected in the interactionism. As a result, the deconstruction and constructions of emotions lead to a socially withdrawn and private person as compared to the personality of the person before going through the system of imprisonment or immigration.

The extent of the emotional shift in the construction and deconstruction process as an immigrant or prisoner is immensely based on the glass self-theory. The changes are marked with uncertainty and abuse, which immensely damage the wellbeing of the emotional self as the feeling of an outsider is emphasized. As immigration scholars illustrate, “The migration

process is a powerful catalyzer of change in emotional life the one that may make it physically and symbolically “out of place”. As people move away from home or indeed, between ‘homes’ the emotions themselves are on the move” (Boccagni & Baldassar, 2015, p. 74). The symbolic aspect of not belonging creates the self-conscious at all times. As an immigrant, one views the self as being a recipient of the stare aspect, thus lowering their self-esteem. The extreme nature of the transition in self, following the interactions in a new environment, is unique as it affects the emotional stability of a person. The case of withdrawal and paranoia is some of the emotional responses of immigrants in the host nation. The emotional changes of a person in the new country are often remarkable.

The emotional changes of the self, especially in imprisonment, is enormous. The introduction into a new environment and culture causes the adaptation to new norms to be perceived. In the normal structure of society, the expression of pain and suffering is deemed normal. However, in the environment of detention or immigration, the norms re changed by the interactions in society. As experts illustrate, “Accounts of prison life consistently describe a culture of mutual mistrust, fear, aggression and barely submerged violence. Often too, they explain how prisoners adapt to this environment—in men’s prisons, at least—by putting on emotional ‘masks’ or ‘fronts’ of masculine bravado which hide their vulnerabilities and deter the aggression of their peers” (Crewe et al., 2013, p. 57). The prison atmosphere is characterized by bullying and emotional turmoil. As a result, the people in the system illustrate the aspect of masking that allows them to appear tough and well-built for the environment. In prison life, the emotional changes shift from open illustration of emotions to the aspect of hiding the true expressions of a person. Apart from the norms and the display, emotional management also becomes aggressive and less-ideal in other cultures. As the authors continue to explain, “inmates use ‘impression management skills’ to create false, toughened identities that allow them to interact with others” (Crewe et al., 2013, p. 58). The management of emotions within the prison system causes false management of emotions. Overall, the changes in the emotional norm, display and management are extensive in the prison system. The expression of emotions makes one susceptible to bullying and harassment, thus changing the display, and management is critical for survival.

In prisons and immigrant communities, emotional labor is enacted through masking of personal feelings. The process of masking allows the people in wither system to adequately develop a new aspect of self to cope in the new environment. As research on the guilt feelings of immigrants illustrate, “the longing of nostalgia and return as well as the excitement of freedom that comes with departure; the love and resentments for kin and country; the guilt and obligation of absence and so on” (Baldassar, 2015, p. 88). The emotional strain leads to different emotional labor, especially masking. For people dealing with the aftermath of prison, the reconstruction period is characterized by the emotional masking based on the inability to provide social and emotional support to the family. Different responses are captured in the reconstruction of emotional labor after prison and immigration. The process of deconstruction and construction of emotions leads to the adoption of different emotional strategies which are often illustrated in masking and withdrawal.

The process of immigration and imprisonment is characterized by immense changes in the emotional aspect of self as the glass-self mentality develops. The self and symbolic interactionism influence the emotional display and management of people who go through seemingly tough situations. Being withdrawn from a society and culture that one understands to a foreign culture requires adaptation in not only the physical but also the emotional self. In the transition into or out of either prison or one nation to another, it is critical to understand the emotional changes of an individual. The understanding of the changes in the self allows the interaction with the rest of society. Moreover, psychiatric help can be effective in reconstruction, thus allowing the uncertainty and abuse of the systems of incarceration and immigration to be addressed. Reconstruction and deconstruction of emotions are enormous in the two processes thus should be addressed with the urgency and speciality needed.