Shared experiences and the social cure in the context of a stigmatized identity

In an attempt to combat the social isolation and stigma associated with the incarceration of a family member, increasingly efforts are made to support families affected by imprisonment. Many of these forms of support are delivered in groups. Participation in support groups generates benefits, sometimes referred to as the social cure, by enhancing a sense of belonging, social connection, and subjective identification with the group. Where an identity is stigmatized, subjective group identification may be resisted and this could potentially undermine the effectiveness of group-based support. We used semi-structured interviews with 12 partners of incarcerated men participating in group-based support, to explore their identity constructions as well as their perceptions of the value of the support group. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using a material-discursive perspective. Findings emphasize the importance of shared experiences as a basis for connection with others in this context where subjective identification with an identity is problematic. Three themes are documented in the data that emphasize shared experience. These themes - Experiences of a 'situation' as the basis for social isolation; Experience of a 'situation' as the basis for inclusion; and Victims of circumstance - all orient to the role of shared experience in participants' talk. The theoretical discussion of these findings highlights the important role of shared experience as a basis for social connections for those affected by stigma. The implications of these findings for supporting families affected by incarceration are discussed, as is the more general potential of group-based approaches for those affected by stigma.