The term is used by Ohio prisoners. Field observations of the informal social structures of two adult correctional institutions, plus a review of secondary sources of data, revealed that the phenomenon is common. The 'mushfaking syndrome' manifests itself through a wide range of inmate activities and is not limited to the construction of contraband. The syndrome appears to represent a compensatory response of prisoners to the physical, psychological, and social deprivations of imprisonment, but is also influenced by inmates' cultural backgrounds and their learning experiences in the larger society. Mushfaking can increase the social solidarity and informal power of inmates in relation to the formal authority structures of prisons. Footnotes and 15 references are included. (Author summary modified)