NCJ Number
6187
Journal
ISSUES IN CRIMINOLOGY Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (WINTER 1970) Pages: 43-58
Date Published
1970
Length
16 pages
Annotation
SUGGESTIONS FOR MORE EFFICIENT APPLICATION OF LEARNING THEORIES TO THE REHABILITATION OF INMATES.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT PRESENT PRACTICES IN THE PRISON ENVIRONMENT ARE NOT ONLY FAILING TO CONTRIBUTE TO REHABILITATION, BUT ARE, FROM A LEARNING THEORY POINT OF VIEW, UNDERMINING THAT REHABILITATION. FIRST, IT WAS SHOWN THAT OUR PRESENT SYSTEM FAILS TO MOTIVATE INMATES ADEQUATELY SO THAT THEY USE THEIR TIME IN A MANNER THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THEM WHEN THEY ARE RELEASED. SECOND, IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS IS SELF-DEFEATING. FINALLY, IT WAS SHOWN HOW THE PERCEPTION OF CONSEQUENCES AS NOT CONTINGENT ON ONE'S BEHAVIOR TENDS TO SUBVERT THE GOALS OF MOTIVATION TOWARD SELF-IMPROVEMENT AND RESISTANCE TO TRANSGRESSIONS. STUDIES IN WHICH BEHAVIOR THERAPY HAS BEEN USED WITH PROMISING RESULTS ARE CITED TO SHOW THAT THE PROPER APPLICATION OF LEARNING THEORY PRINCIPLES WITHIN THE CORRECTIONAL SETTING MAY BE OF SOME UTILITY AS A REHABILITATIVE TOOL. REFERENCES AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED