In recent years, scholarly and applied inquiry has addressed the importance of interpersonal communication patterns and problems in maximum security institutions for males. As a result of this research, the number of programs designed to improve the interpersonal effectiveness of prison inmates has increased dramatically. Research suggests that some dysfunctional and dangerous aspects of prison life may be amenable to programmatic intervention, such as the following: (1) the inappropriate communication styles that result from inmate backgrounds and the realities of institutional life; (2) the tendency of inmates to keep to themselves rather than identify appropriate opportunities for self disclosure, release of tension, and receipt of feedback; and (3) the inability to cope with the impact of institutional life on relationships with those outside the prison. However, few studies have directly addressed interpersonal communication in the maximum security prisons per se. Instead, most studies investigate related issues such as subcultural adaptations, stability of relationships with family members, and the psychological effect of imprisonment. In addition, there appears to be a lack of conclusive empirical validation of how investigators conceptualize inmate communication. There is an evident need for further research, programmatic interventions, and evaluations of specific programs. Seventy-eight footnotes are provided. (JD)