Forças de Caráter e Reincidência Penitenciária: um estudo na perspectiva da psicologia positiva

Abstract

Recidivism reflects individual, family, social, and institutional factors. This study examined associations among character strengths, sociodemographic characteristics, offending history, and recidivism among detained adolescents and young adults. An exploratory, cross-sectional mixed-methods design included 46 participants (mean age = 16.02 years), of whom 76.1% had a history of recidivism. Sociodemographic and offense-related data, scores on the Expanded Character Strengths Scale (EFC-A; Portuguese acronym), and semi-structured interviews were analyzed through group comparisons, logistic regressions, and IRAMUTEQ lexical analysis. No character strength, virtue, sociodemographic characteristic, or offense-related variable was significantly associated with recidivism. Fairness showed an exploratory signal that did not survive correction for multiple comparisons. Qualitative analysis classified 554 segments into four lexical classes: offending dynamics and violent property offenses; drugs, street life, and socialization into offending; life projects, self-perception, and reintegration; and family support, visits, and guidance. Past reoffending and the narratives revealed coexisting vulnerabilities, subjective resources, social ties, and expectations of life reorganization; no post-detention offending was observed. In this sample, offense type, individual characteristics, and character strengths did not consistently distinguish groups defined by past reoffending. Character strengths constitute resources to be developed, not markers of risk or protection. The findings support integrated youth justice interventions combining accountability, substance use care, stronger social ties, education, vocational training, and future planning.