HELPING PRISONERS HELP THEMSELVES, RATIONALLY (FROM INSTITUTE OF CNTEMPORARY CORRECTIONS AND THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, 12TH ANNUAL INTERAGENCY WORKSHOP - PROCEEDINGS, 1977 - SEE NCJ-50660)

• NCJ Number: 50666
• Author(s): M MAULTSBY JR
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Sam Houston State University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE ANALYSIS OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR UNDERLYNG RATIONAL BRAIN USE IS PRESENTED, AND ITS APPLICATION TO THE OPERATION OF CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS IN THE FORM OF TEACHING PRISONERS TO COUNSEL THEMSELVES IS DISCUSSED.

Abstract

IT IS INDICATED THAT EACH PERSON'S BEHAVIOR RESULTS FROM BRAIN PROCESSES THAT ARE THE SAME IN EACH INDIVIDUAL. WHILE THE DYNAMICS OF THE BRAIN PROCESSES IN EACH PERSON ARE THE SAME, THE CONTENT DIFFERS FROM PERSON TO PERSON, THUS ISSUING IN DIFFERENT BEHAVIORS UNDER SIMILAR EXTERNAL STIMULI. BEHAVIORAL CHANGE THAT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND PRESUMABLY SOCIETY OCCURS AS THE INDIVIDUAL BECOMES AWARE OF THE OPERATION OF HIS BRAIN PROCESSES AND CHOOSES TO FEED IT A NEW CONTENT THAT ISSUES IN NEW BEHAVIOR THAT HAS THE CONSEQUENCES PREFERRED BY THE ACTOR. THIS PROCESS OF CHANGE ONLY OCCURS WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL DESIRES TO AVOID THE PATTERN OF CONSEQUENCES FROM PAST BEHAVIOR. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM TEACH OFFENDERS WHO WISH TO AVOID THE CONSEQUENCES OF A CRIMINAL LIFESTYLE HOW THEY CAN COUNSEL THEMSELVES TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. TO IMPLEMENT THIS, OFFENDERS ARE TAUGHT THE FOLLOWING CAUSE AND EFFECT BRAIN PROCESS: PERCEPTIONS; EVALUATIVE THOUGHTS; AND EMOTIONS. THEY ARE THEN TAUGHT TO EXAMINE THEIR PERCEPTIONS, TEST THEIR EVALUATIONS, AND THUS GAIN RATIONAL CONTROL OVER THEIR EMOTIONS AND CONSEQUENT BEHAVIOR. THE PROCESS, ONCE LEARNED, CAN CONTINUE TO BE USED BY THE INDIVIDUAL WHENEVER HE WISHES TO ANALYZE WHY HIS BEHAVIOR IS NOT BRINGING THE DESIRED CONSEQUENCES. THE SUCCESSFUL OPERATION OF THIS PROCESS IN THE CONTEXT OF CHANGING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR PRESUPPOSES THAT LAWS AND THE OPERATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS CREATE PAINFUL CONSEQUENCES FOR DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR (VIEWED RATIONALLY FROM SOCIETY'S PERSPECTIVE), SUCH THAT LAW-ABIDING BEHAVIOR HAS SUFFICIENT ATTRACTIONS TO MOTIVATE CHANGE. THE USE OF RATIONAL SELF-COUNSELING FOR PROBATIONERS AND PAROLEES IS DETAILED, AND THE TESTIMONY OF AN INCARCERATED OFFENDER ON THE BENEFITS OF THE TRAINING IS INCLUDED. A LIST OF SUGGESTED READINGS IS PROVIDED. (RCB)