NCJ Number
56755
Journal
Journal of Clinical Psychology Volume: 34 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1978) Pages: 991-998
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
TWO STUDIES OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SELF-CONTROL TECHNIQUES IN HELPING PRISON INMATES CURB THEIR SMOKING HABITS ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
IN THE FIRST STUDY, 14 MALE INMATES OF A FEDERAL PRISON WERE GIVEN INSTRUCTION IN A VARIETY OF SELF-CONTROL TECHNIQUES. THE SIX INMATES WHO COMPLETED TREATMENT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THEIR CIGARETTE SMOKING. THE CHANGING CRITERION GOAL-SETTING TECHNIQUE--SETTING PROGRESSIVELY LOWER SMOKING-REDUCTION GOALS UNTIL THE FINAL GOAL IS ACHIEVED--PROVED PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE. A SECOND STUDY WAS UNDERTAKEN TO REPLICATE THE FINDINGS OF THE FIRST, TO EXPLORE THE RELATIVE EFFICACY OF THERAPIST- AND CLIENT-SET GOALS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF INMATES, TO EXAMINE DIFFERENCES IN INMATE PREFERENCES FOR SELF-CONTROL TECHNIQUES, AND TO DETERMINE WHETHER PROGRAM DROPOUT COULD BE REDUCED. OF THE 28 SUBJECTS IN THE SECOND EXPERIMENT, ONLY 9 FAILED TO COMPLETE TREATMENT. THE RELATIVELY LOW DROPOUT RATE IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO A CONTRACTING PROCEDURE INTRODUCED TO DISCOURAGE DROPOUTS. THE SUBJECTS (INCLUDING ONE PIPE SMOKER) WHO COMPLETED TREATMENT ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN SMOKING. THE TREATMENT COMPONENTS FAVORED BY ALL OF THE INMATES--SELF-MONITORING, CHANGING CRITERION GOAL SETTING, 'MINI-GOAL' SETTING, AND CIGARETTE BUDGETING--ARE THOSE THAT ATTACK THE IMPULSIVE ASPECTS OF SMOKING. THE FINDINGS SUGGEST, BUT DO NOT PROVE CONCLUSIVELY, THAT INMATE LOCUS OF CONTROL (EXTERNAL VERSUS INTERNAL) IS RELATED TO PREFERENCE FOR THERAPIST- OR INMATE-SET GOALS. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)