NCJ Number
30924
Date Published
1975
Length
10 pages
Annotation
AFTER PROVIDING A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE THEORY AND APPLICATIONS OF BIOFEEDBACK, THE AUTHOR DESCRIBES A CORRECTIONAL PROGRAM WHICH USES BIOFEEDBACK TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE INMATES' SELF AWARENESS AND SELF-ACTUALIZATION.
Abstract
BIOFEEDBACK IS A TECHNIQUE WHEREBY INFORMATION ON A SUBJECT'S PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES IS CONVERTED INTO VISUAL OR AUDITORY SIGNALS, ALLOWING THE SUBJECT TO 'LEARN' TO CONSCIOUSLY CONTROL 'UNCONSCIOUS', 'INVOLUNTARY' AUTONOMIC SYSTEMS. IT IS NOTED THAT AS PERSONS LEARNED TO GAIN CONTROL OF NORMALLY INVOLUNTARY PROCESSES, MANY PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS WERE ACCRUING AS WELL; FOR EXAMPLE, IT WAS FOUND THAT SELF MASTERY IN THE PHYSICAL REALM LEAD TO FEELINGS OF SELF CONFIDENCE AND SELF-CONTROL IN THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DOMAIN. THE KANSAS RECEPTION AND DIAGNOSTIC CENTER (KRDC) HAS INITIATED A PROGRAM OF BIOFEEDBACK TRAINING AS PART OF A CONSCIOUSNESS TRAINING PROGRAM. INMATE VOLUNTEERS RECEIVE INTENSIVE BIOFEEDBACK TRAINING FOR FIVE WEEKS. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT THIS TRAINING ACCOMPLISHES: 1) LEARNING TO RELAX DEEPLY; 2) LEARNING TO ATTEND TO INTERNAL CUES; 3) LEARNING TO RE-DIRECT MOODS AND GAIN SKILLS IN CONTROLLING STRESS; AND 4) PROVES A DRAMATIC REVELATION TO MOST INMATES AS THEY EXPERIENCE PSYCHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL CONTROL AND REALIZE THAT THEIR RESPONSES ARE NOT MEDIATED TOTALLY EXTERNALLY. BIOFEEDBACK TRAINING IS FOLLOWED BY A PSYCHOSYNTHESIS PORTION OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH ATTEMPTS TO EXPLORE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, ENHANCE POSITIVE FEELINGS, AND EXPLORE THE SELF CONCEPT. THE AUTHOR PROVIDES AN EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE OF ARGUMENTS PRESENTED IN THIS PROGRAM IN ORDER TO ILLUSTRATE THE PROGRAM'S APPLICATIONS TO REHABILITATION.