NCJ Number
65422
Date Published
1979
Length
36 pages
Annotation
A TREATMENT PROGRAM INTRODUCED AT THE BEAUMONT LEARNING CENTER IN VIRGINIA, A RESIDENTIAL CENTER FOR MALE DELINQUENTS, IS EVALUATED IN TERMS OF ITS EFFECT ON YOUTHS' SELF-ESTEEM AND OTHER FACTORS.
Abstract
INTRODUCED IN 1978, THE NEW TREATMENT PROGRAM MAINTAINED THAT STAFF MEMBERS BE TRAINED IN CERTAIN TREATMENT MODALITIES (E.G., REALITY TREATMENT, RATIONAL-EMOTIVE THERAPY, AND TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS). INCLUDED IN THE RESEARCH DESIGN WERE SIX COTTAGES WHOSE RESIDENTS WERE EXAMINED FOR AND CATEGORIZED INTO TWO PERSONALITY TYPES: SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (SR) STUDENTS AND PERSONAL INTERACTION ACTIVE (PIA) STUDENTS. THE RESEARCH FOLLOWS A PRETEST, POSTTEST CONTROL GROUP DESIGN. THE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE IS STAFF TRAINING. THE DEPENDENT VARIABLES ARE ATTITUDES TOWARD PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL ENVIRONMENT, PERCEPTION OF SELF-ESTEEM, AND TENDENCY TOWARD DEVIANT BEHAVIOR MEASURED BY THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ENVIRONMENT SCALE, THE SELF-ESTEEM INVENTORY, AND THE PSYCHOPATHIC DEVIATE SCALE OF THE MINNESOTA MULTIPHASIC PERSONALITY INVENTORY. FOR COMPARATIVE PURPOSES, CONTROL GROUPS HOUSED IN COTTAGES WITHOUT TRAINED STAFF WERE ALSO DESIGNATED FOR BOTH PERSONALITY TYPES. OVERALL FINDINGS INDICATE THAT THE IMPACT OF TRAINED STAFF ON THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL OUTLOOK AND THE TENDENCY TOWARD RULEBREAKING BEHAVIOR WAS NEGLIGIBLE FOR SR STUDENTS, WHO ARE CHARACTERIZED AS LACKING GUILT OR EMPATHY FOR OTHERS. HOWEVER, FOR PIA STUDENTS, OR THOSE LACKING COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS AND HAVING LOW FRUSTRATION TOLERANCE, STAFF TRAINING APPEARED TO HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON PERCEIVED SELF-ESTEEM, EXPRESSIVENESS, AUTONOMY, SUPPORT, AND PREPARATION FOR RELEASE. THE RESEARCH MEASUREMENT TOOLS ARE APPENDED, AND FOOTNOTES, TABULAR DATA, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)