NCJ Number
53464
Date Published
1978
Length
51 pages
Annotation
TO GAUGE THE INFLUENCE OF EARLY LIFE EXPERIENCES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR, THREE DIVERSE POPULATIONS WERE QUERIED IN A PSYCHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF PARENTAL AFFECTION DEPRIVATION.
Abstract
A QUESTIONNAIRE (NOT INCLUDED) WAS DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE CROSS-VALIDATION OF PRINCIPLES DERIVED FROM COMPARATIVE ANIMAL AND CROSS-CULTURAL STUDIES OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF AFFECTIONAL DEPRIVATION DURING THE FORMATIVE PERIODS OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT. THE QUESTIONNAIRE--THE SOMATOSENSORY INDEX OF HUMAN AFFECTION--FOCUSED ON PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS, SEXUAL VALUES AND BEHAVIORS, DRUG AND ALCOHOLIC BEHAVIORS, AND MORAL VALUES CONCERNING PAIN AND PLEASURE IN HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS. IT WAS ADMINISTERED TO A VARIETY OF CALIFORNIANS (INCLUDING HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, LECTURE AUDIENCES, CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS, INSTITUTIONALIZED ALCOHOLICS, A HUMANIST GROUP, AN ABORTION GROUP, AMERICAN INDIANS, AND LESBIANS), TO NONADJUDICATED ALLEGED OFFENDERS AT THE BALTIMORE, MD., CITY JAIL, AND TO AMERICAN AND CANADIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. COMPARISONS OF THE VARIOUS DATA INDICATE THAT THE QUALITY OF MALE-FEMALE RELATIONSHIPS IS PERHAPS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AREA OF CONCERN IN UNDERSTANDING THE PRISON PERSONALITY. IT APPEARS REASONABLE TO CONCLUDE THAT THE MOST DAMAGING EFFECTS OF PARENTAL AFFECTION DEPRIVATION IS MEDIATED THROUGH DISTURBED SEXUAL FUNCTIONING AND IT FURTHER APPEARS THAT DISFUNCTIONAL AFFECTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS THAT BEGIN WITH THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND CONTINUE THROUGH YOUTH AND ADULT SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE THE COMMON PATHWAY OF VIOLENCE AND CRIME. IT IS ALSO APPARENT THAT THE DESIGN OF THE PRISON ENVIRONMENT FACILITATES, IF NOT MAXIMIZES, THE AFFECTIONAL DEPRIVATION AND DISFUNCTION OF ITS INHABITANTS. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED, ALONG WITH REFERENCES. (KBL)