From Hyperrationality to Rehabilitation: The Transformation of Prisoner Decision-Making in Poland, 1985–2025

Abstract

This article examines the evolution of prisoners’ decision-making in Poland between 1985 and 2025, against the backdrop of political, social, and penitentiary transformations. Drawing on Marek Kamiński’s concept of hyperrationality, it demonstrates how, under the realities of the People’s Republic of Poland, inmates were forced into strategic calculations within the subculture of grypsmen (grypsujący), a system of punishments and rewards, as well as games based on self-harm and coalition-building. By contrast, the contemporary prison environment (grounded in human rights, rehabilitation programs, and greater security) has significantly limited the role of subculture and reshaped the structure of decision-making situations. As a result, the number of strategic choices has declined, and the traditional hyperrationality of prisoners has largely lost its importance. The analysis highlights the profound transformation of the Polish penitentiary system: from a world dominated by subcultural games and risky survival strategies to an institution where predictable administrative and rehabilitative mechanisms govern inmates’ daily lives.