NCJ Number
41548
Date Published
1977
Length
594 pages
Annotation
IN THIS BOOK, THE SECOND OF A THREE VOLUME SERIES, DRS. YOCHELSON AND SAMENOW PRESENT A DETAILED PORTRAIT OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR PATTERNS, FOCUSING ON THE MODIFICATION OF CRIMINAL THINKING PROCESSES NEEDED TO ACHIEVE CHANGE.
Abstract
IN VOLUME I OF 'THE CRIMINAL PERSONALITY' (NCJ-32996), THE AUTHORS EXPLORED THE THOUGHT PATTERNS OF THE CRIMINAL MIND. IN VOLUME II, THE STRATEGY FOR AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAM OF CHANGE IS PRESENTED, BASED ON THE AUTHORS' 15 YEARS OF RESEARCH, INTENSIVE THERAPY, AND FOLLOW-UP STUDIES AT SAINT ELIZABETH'S HOSPITAL IN WASHINGTON, D.C BEFORE CHANGE CAN BE IMPLEMENTED, THE CRIMINAL MUST HAVE REACHED A STAGE OF VULNERABILITY AND MUST BE BROUGHT TO REALIZE THAT ONLY THREE CHOICES REMAIN: SUICIDE, PRISON, OR CHANGE. IF THE CRIMINAL CAN MAKE THE DECISION TO CHANGE, HE BEGINS A LONG AND INTENSIVE CHANGE PROCESS. THE SUBJECT IS NOT ASKED TO EXAMINE HIS CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR OR ITS CAUSES, FOR THIS, THE AUTHORS HAVE DISCOVERED, REINFORCES THE VERY BEHAVIOR IT SEEKS TO ELIMINATE. THE CRIMINAL OBTAINS THE SAME HIGH TALKING ABOUT HIS EXPLOITS AS FROM THE ACTIVITY ITSELF. THE PROCESS IS PHENOMENOLOGICAL: DAILY REPORTS SERVE AS THE BASIS FOR A DETAILED EXAMINATION OF EVERYTHING THAT THE CRIMINAL THINKS AND DOES. THE EMPHASIS IN THIS EXAMINATION IS ON THE PREVENTION, DETERRENCE, AND EVENTUAL PREEMPTION OF ALL CRIMINAL THINKING. SUCCESS IS DETERMINED NOT BY THE CRIMINAL'S HOLDING A RESPONSIBLE POSITION, NOR BY THE AVOIDANCE OF ARREST, BUT BY THE TOTAL ELIMINATION OF ALL THE ELEMENTS WHICH PREVIOUSLY CHARACTERIZED THE CRIMINAL'S THINKING AND THEIR REPLACEMENT BY TOTALLY NEW ASSUMPTIONS AND VALUES. IN ADDITION TO DESCRIBING IN DETAIL THEIR OWN PHENOMENOLOGICAL APPROACH TO CRIMINAL HABILITATION, THE AUTHORS PROVIDE AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS AT REHABILITATION AND EXAMINE DETERRENCE, REWARD AND PUNISHMENT, AND ORGANIC, SOCIOLOGIC, AND PSYCHIATRIC APPROACHES. THEY DISCUSS THE QUESTION OF FOLLOW-UP STUDIES AND EXAMINE THE SHORTCOMINGS OF MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES. FINALLY THEY DISCUSS THE CHARACTERISTICS NECESSARY FOR ANY CHANGE TO BE SUCCESSFUL....MSP