EXAMINATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN LIGHT OF LEARNING THEORY (FROM PUNISHMENT - PERSPECTIVES IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY, 1977, BY ISABELLE COLLURA ET AL SEE NCJ-56676)

• NCJ Number: 56683
• Author(s): K A SLAIKEU
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Texas at Arlington
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

LEARNED BEHAVIORS IN PRISON ARE EXAMINED IN THE LIGHT OF PRINCIPLES OF BEHAVIORAL LEARNING, AND PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL APPROACHES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR ARE SUGGESTED.

Abstract

BEHAVIORAL LEARNING OCCURS UNDER THE CONDITIONING OF A STRUCTURE OF REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS WHICH TENDS TO PROMOTE AND DIMINISH CERTAIN PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR. MODELING, IMITATION, LABELING, AND ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS GREATLY INFLUENCE THE DYNAMICS OF REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS PERCEIVED AND EXPERIENCED IN A GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCE. THE BEHAVIOR NURTURED BY THE GENERAL PRISON PATTERN OF REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS IS ESSENTIALLY INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE BEHAVIOR REQUIRED FOR SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE ADJUSTMENT IN SOCIETY. CONFINEMENT UNDER THE CONTROL OF GUARDS AND PRISON CUSTODIAL POLICY NURTURES SUBMISSIVENESS, REPRESSION OF ANGER, AND THE CULTIVATION OF BEHAVIORAL DECEPTION SO AS TO APPEAR CONFORMING. ADJUSTMENT TO OTHER INMATES, ON THE OTHER HAND, REQUIRES AGGRESSIVENESS, INTIMIDATION, VIOLENCE, AND DEFENSIVE SELF-INTEREST. WORK, UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF PRISON PERSONNEL, IS MOST OFTEN EXPERIENCED AS PUNISHMENT. THE BEHAVIORAL AND ATTITUDINAL PATTERNS, THEREFORE, THAT EMERGE UNDER PRISON CONDITIONING ARE APPARENT BUT DECEPTIVE SUUBMISSIVENESS TO AUTHORITY FIGURES WHILE REPRESSING ANGER AND HOSTILITY TOWARD THEM; AGGRESSIVENESS, VIOLENCE, INTIMIDATION, AND SUSPICION TOWARD PEERS; AND A VIEW OF WORK AS PUNISHMENT RATHER THAN A MEANS TO GAIN REWARD AND SELF-FULFILLMENT. SUCH A BEHAVIORAL AND ATTITUDINAL POSTURE MUST BE DEEMED MALADAPTIVE WITHIN SOCIETY. REMEDIAL MEASURES MUST BE BASED IN AN ATTEMPT TO SO STRUCTURE CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS THAT WILL ALLOW INMATES TO BE TAUGHT, PERFORM, AND ACT OUT BEHAVIOR TAILORED TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF ADAPTIVE LIVING IN SOCIETY. PRERELEASE AND POSTRELEASE PROGRAMS MUST HELP OFFENDERS AND EX-OFFENDERS TO ENGAGE IN BEHAVIOR THAT WILL BRING TANGIBLE REWARDS FROM JOBS AND SOCIAL INTERACTION. SPECIFIC CORRECTIONAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC REFORMS NEEDED TO AID POSITIVE BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION ARE DISCUSSED. (RCB)