NCJ Number
55624
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: (1976) Pages: 121-127
Date Published
1976
Length
7 pages
Annotation
TWO TYPES OF CRIMINALS--PARANOID AND MANIPULATIVE--ARE DEFINED ON THE BASIS OF A PSYCHOLOGIST'S OBSERVATIONS DURING 10 YEARS OF WORKING WITH INMATES ON WORK RELEASE.
Abstract
CLINICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE PARANOID AND MANIPULATIVE CONDITIONS AMONG OFFENDERS IS DRAWN FROM COMMENTS MADE BY INMATES DURING GROUP THERAPY SESSIONS. PARANOID OFFENDERS JUSTIFY THEIR BEHAVIOR BY REFERRING TO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE, OR WHAT THEY THINK HAS BEEN DONE, TO THEM. TWO SOCIAL PHENOMENA--LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND THE URBAN CONDITION--ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PARANOID CONDITION, AS ARE ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE. THE MANIPULATIVE ASPECT OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR HAS TO DO WITH THE THRILL OR FUN OF PUTTING SOMETHING OVER ON SOMEONE. MANY CRIMINALS FIND AN ALTERED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS IN THEIR ACTIVITIES, SOME DIRECTLY THROUGH ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE (THAT OFTEN LEADS TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY), AND OTHERS THROUGH THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ITSELF. THE MANIPULATIVE OR THRILL-SEEKING OFFENDER, UNLIKE HIS PARANOID COUNTERPART, COMES FROM ALL SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY. IT APPEARS THAT MANY OFFENDERS WHO ARE DIAGNOSED AS ANTISOCIAL OR SOCIOPATHIC WOULD MORE USEFULLY BE CLASSIFIED AS PARANOID OR MANIPULATIVE. THINKING OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IN THIS WAY SHEDS LIGHT ON THE LIMITED SUCCESS OF MANY REHABILITATIVE EFFORTS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)