INCREASED DELAY OF GRATIFICATION IN YOUNG PRISON INMATES THROUGH IMITATION OF HIGH-DELAY PEER-MODELS

• NCJ Number: 18939
• Author(s): R W WASHBURN
• Date Published: 1969
• Length: 74 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DISSERTATION - FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

Annotation

RESULTS OF A MODELING PROCEDURE STUDY DEMONSTRATING THE CONTROLLED ACQUISITION OF A SOCIALLY RELEVANT BEHAVIOR, DELAY OF GRATIFICATION, IN YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS THROUGH IMITATION.

Abstract

FORTY NEWLY-ADMITTED, 18-20 YEAR OLD INMATES, DIVIDED INTO ONE CONTROL AND ONE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP, SERVED AS SUBJECTS. TWO OLDER INMATES WITH PRESTIGIOUS WORK DETAILS SERVED AS HIGH-DELAY PEER-MODELS. BOTH GROUPS, ALL DEMONSTRATING IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION ORIENTATION, RECEIVED LIMITED MODEL EXPOSURE. ONE MONTH LATER THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP WAS EXPOSED TO ANOTHER HIGH-DELAY MODEL, AND SUBSEQUENTLY SHOWED A 53 PERCENT DELAY INCREASE WHEN MAKING GRATIFICATION CHOICES FROM A CHOICE LIST. THUS, THIS STUDY FOUND THAT NOT ONLY DID EXPOSURE TO HIGH-DELAY PEER-MODELS IMMEDIATELY INCREASE PERCENTAGE OF DELAY CHOICES, BUT THAT THIS EFFECT WAS MAINTAINED ONE MONTH LATER AS WELL. RESULTS ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-CONTROLLING BEHAVIOR AND WITH REGARD TO THE BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TREATMENT OF YOUTHFUL CRIMINAL OFFENDERS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)