NCJ Number
144704
Journal
Issues in Mental Health Nursing Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: (January- March 1991) Pages: 51-64
Date Published
1991
Length
14 pages
Annotation
King's theory of goal attainment may be useful in conducting group psychotherapy sessions with offender populations, as demonstrated in an inpatient setting for juvenile sexual offenders, a State maximum-security prison, and a halfway house for offenders involved in a work release program.
Abstract
King indicates that mutual goal setting and goal attainment are accomplished when individuals come together in a setting to achieve or maintain a functional health state. In setting mutual goals, individuals bargain, negotiate, and identify commonalities, and goal attainment results in measurable outcomes. King's goal attainment theory encompasses social systems, space, time, growth and development, communication, perception, transactions, visual aids, and curative factors. Although the validity of King's theory is demonstrated in the three settings, a major drawback is the inability to follow individuals as they progress through the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Further research is recommended to extend the theory beyond the initial group experience by monitoring individuals on probation and parole. The methodology and use of visual aids in actualizing King's theory of mutual goal setting and goal attainment are discussed. 6 references and 3 figures