NCJ Number
66812
Date Published
Unknown
Length
19 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER IS A STATEMENT OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIOLOGICAL POSITION OF TRAINING FOR LIVING INC., (TFL) AND ITS APPROACH TO THE TRAINING OF HUMAN SERVICE PROFESSIONALS IN AREAS SUCH AS DRUG ABUSE.
Abstract
OTHER AREAS INCLUDE ADDICTION, ALCOHOLISM, CHILD ABUSE, DELINQUENCY, AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE ORGANIZATION IS BASED ON THE PHILOSOPHIC PREMISE THAT PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE OR REFUSE TO REALIZE THEIR INNATE POTENTIAL, AND THAT OVERCOMING RESISTANCE AGAINST CONFRONTING CHALLENGE HELPS PEOPLE TO FIND THEIR TRUE HUMANITY. THE HUMAN PERSONALITY IS SEEN AS MADE UP OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S TEMPERAMENT (INBORN) AND CHARACTER (LARGELY ACQUIRED). THE CHARACTER IS MADE UP OF ATTITUDES WHICH MAY BE EITHER CONSTRUCTIVE, NEGATIVE, OR NEUTRAL. CHARACTER RECONSTRUCTION, ACCORDING TO TFL, MEANS A REORIENTING OF HUMAN ENERGIES IN PRODUCTIVE (POSITIVE) DIRECTIONS. A CRIME PREVENTION MODEL IS PRESENTED IN WHICH THE PEOPLE WITHIN A SOCIETY ARE (1) EITHER WORKING ACTIVELY TOWARDS SELF-REALIZATION, (2) WORKING ACTIVELY AGAINST IT (E.G., MANY CRIMINALS), AND (3) ARE DOING NEITHER. THE GOAL OF THOSE EMPLOYED IN HUMAN SERVICE PREVENTION, TRAINING, AND REHABILITATION IS TO REORIENT INDIVIDUALS WITH NEGATIVE OR NEUTRAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE OUTLOOK. THE PROCESS TAKES PLACE IN SEVERAL STAGES: (1) A CONTACT PHASE BETWEEN THE CLIENT AND THE EDUCATOR, (2) A 'YO-YO' STAGE (THE TEDIOUS WAITING PROCESS UNTIL THE CLIENT BECOMES RECEPTIVE TO TREATMENT), (3) AN ENGAGEMENT PHASE, AND (4) A FIRM COMMITMENT PHASE. IN VIEW OF GROWING CRIME PROBLEMS, MORE INTENSIVE TRAINING OF TFL STAFF (BOTH IN NUMBER AND DEPTH) IS URGED. (SAJ)