The amount of time spent in prison, the degree of assimilation into the inmate subculture (prisonization), changes in self-esteem, and self-disclosure are associated with the deprivation model. Advocates of the importation model, however, argue that factors from outside the prison experience have an equal effect. Prisonization, self-esteem, self-disclosure, post-release expectations and outside contacts were examined in a cross section of 100 minimum security inmates. Subjects completed questionnaires consisting of a 73-item scale to measure prisonization, the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, and the Jourard Self-Disclosure Questionnaire. Self-esteem was correlated with three prisonization measures but not with self-disclosure. Self-disclosure shifted to outside prison targets as release neared. There was also a significant two-way interaction of self-esteem and social role adaptation on disclosure to inmates. The measures of outside influences showed inconclusive results and did not provide support for either model. The data suggest that inmates who are most involved in the inmate subculture assume more negative social roles and are more opposed to the law and to the institution. (The appendices contain reliability/validity information on the scales used in the study as well as the study instruments.) (Author/NRB) (Resources in Education (ERIC) abstract)