NCJ Number
63985
Journal
Bewaehrungshilfe Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: (1979) Pages: 172-185
Date Published
1979
Length
14 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A STUDY ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GROUP THERAPY FOR PROBATIONERS ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
GROUPS OF 8 TO 10 SELECTED PROBATIONERS MEETINGS ONCE A WEEK USES GENERAL TECHNIQUES OF GROUP THERAPY FOR RESOCIALIZATION. TAPE-RECORDED SESSIONS OF THREE GROUPS WITH TWO GROUP LEADERS EACH WERE ANALYZED ACCORDING TO PROBATIONER BEHAVIOR; I.E., INFORMATION, QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS, REJECTIONS, AGREEMENT, OR EXPLANATIONS DIRECTED TO THE WHOLE GROUP OR TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS OR MADE AS REFLECTION. LEADER BEHAVIOR ALSO ANALYZED; I.E., LEADERS' REMARKS (1) TO THE GROUP (INFORMATION, NORMS, INTERPRETATION, REINFORCEMENT) OR (2) TO INDIVIDUALS (INFORMATION, INTERPRETATION, EXPLANATION, REINFORCEMENT, VERBALIZATION, PROBLEM EXPLORING). DATA WAS INTERPRETED STATISTICALLY USING MULTIDIMENSIONAL GRADUATED SCALES. RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE LEADERS' BEHAVIOR STRUCTURES WERE DOMINATED BY EXPLANATIONS AND INFORMATION RATHER THAN THERAPEUTIC VARIABLES (VERBALIZATION, REINFORCEMENT, INTERPRETATION, PROBLEM EXPLORING), THAT PROBATION OFFICER GROUP LEADERS WERE LIKELY TO BE MORE ACTIVE THAN LEADERS FROM ACADEMIC INSTITUTES, AND THAT EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE WERE MORE IMPORTANT FOR LEADERS' BEHAVIOR THAN WERE THEORETICAL CONCEPTIONS OF GROUP TECHNIQUES. FURTHERMORE, PROBATIONERS' INTERACTION FLUCTUATED BETWEEN THE POLE OF INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL STATEMENTS AND THE POLE OF DISCUSSION AMONG GROUP MEMBERS, BUT GROUP DISCUSSION TENDED TO BE LIMITED TO EXCHANGES BETWEEN LEADERS AND INDIVIDUALS. IT IS EMPHASIZED THAT CONTINUED PARTICIPATION LEADING TO GROUP COHESION IS A PREREQUISITE TO MODIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL ATTITUDES BY GROUP THERAPY. NOTES, TABLES, AND GRAPHS ARE SUPPLIED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)