THE MEANING OF SELF-ESTEEM AMONG HAZING PERPETRATORS AT THE CLASS IIB BREBES CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION: AN INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS STUDY

This qualitative study uses Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore how hazing perpetrators interpret self-esteem in the Class IIB Brebes Correctional Institution. Based on semi-structured interviews with eight informants - comprising three perpetrators, two victims, and three correctional officers - analyzed through NVivo 12, the research identified eight superordinate themes dominated by a culture of violence, informal hierarchy, and a victim-to-perpetrator cycle. Findings reveal that perpetrators view self-esteem as a fragile construct vulnerable to perceived threats, utilizing violence as a strategy for self-esteem restoration, social validation, and a rite of passage within the prison subculture. Driven by multidimensional factors - structural overcrowding, cultural norms, and psychological needs for recognition - hazing inflicts severe physical, psychological, and social harm on victims, though family support and spirituality offer potential pathways to break the cycle, underscoring the urgent need for multi-level systemic interventions.