cognitive therapy and recidivism
TRANSCRIPT
Cognitive Therapy and Cognitive Therapy and RecidivismRecidivism
Jerry Traylor, BA, QMRP Jerry Traylor, BA, QMRP PSY 6659 PSY 6659 Cognitive and Behavioral Interventions Cognitive and Behavioral Interventions Troy University-Dothan Troy University-Dothan Fall 2010 © 2010 Fall 2010 © 2010
A M E R I C A N S In Criminal Justice System
1,404, 053 State Prisons
208,118 U.S. BOP
Total 6,612,171
5,000,000 Probation/Parole
How to make a sociopath aka criminal in 2 easy steps
HERIDITY
neurochemicals
traits
personality characteristics
Step one Step Two
ENVIRONMENT
neglect
poverty
abuse
parenting practices
family structure
education
aggressive/violent/criminal role modelsPeer Groups
. Neurochemicals
Neurochemicals are responsible for the activation of behavioral patterns and tendencies in specific areas of
the brainMonoamine oxidase (MAO) disinhibition impulsivity aggression antisocial behavior aggressive behavior
Serotonin depression anxiety bipolar disorder impulsive aggression impulsive behavior emotional aggression
Dopamine pleasure aggression ADHD impulsivity, ADHD violent offenders
EpinephrineNorepinephrine
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)hyperactivity and inattention are the most highly related
predisposing factors antisocial behaviorinability to analyze and anticipate consequenceslearn from their past behavior
Traits and Personality Disorders.
Conduct Disorder (CD)violation of societal rules and normsdemonstrated disregard for the rights of othersDiagnosed over the age of 18
Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) argumentativeness, noncompliance, and irritabilitythe first disorder that is identified in childrenif sustained can lead to the diagnosis of CD
lacks moral development
does not feel socially responsible for their actions
dependent on their genetic makeup and personality
product of the individual's personality physiotype genotype
Sociopaths and Antisocial BehaviorPrimary Sociopath
develops in response to environment
Unsuccessful in reaching their needs in a socially desireable way
Greater dependence on environmental factors
Secondary Sociopath
an individual's antisocial or criminal behavior can be the result of both their genetic background and the
environment in which they were raised
between seventy and ninety percent of violent offenders have been highly aggressive as young children
R E C I D I V I S MR E C I D I V I S M
Cost Per Day For Prison Incarceration
$55 to $75.00
2008 — 133,947 individuals — returned to prison as a result of violating their terms of supervision
9% of adults exiting parole returned to prison as a result of a new conviction
RECIDIVISMBASED ON 2 FACTORS
Static Factors
Criminogenic FactorsCan Be Changed through the correct intervention
Can’t Be Changed: Will not respond to any type of intervention
With proper assessment of these factors, researchers and practitioners have demonstrated that it is possible to
classify offenders according to their relative likelihood of committing new offenses with as much as 80 percent
accuracy
STATIC FACTORS
In predicting recidivism, we know that there are a number of "static"
factors that are predictive
Programming Cannot Change These Static
Factors
Predictive Static FactorsAGE
Adolescent Criminal History
Sex
Educatio
n
Family
Events
Race
LOW SELF
ESTEEMM
EDICAL
NEED
S
PHYSICAL
CONDITIONING
ANXIE
TYCREA
DTIVE
ABILIT
IES
Predictive Criminogenic Factors
Anti-social personality
Anti-social attitudes and values
Anti-social associates
Family dysfunction
Poor self-control, poor problem-solving skills
Substance abuse
Lack of employment/employment skills
Criminogenic Needs are factors in an offender’s life that are directly related to recidivism.
Criminal PeersAssociating with other criminals increases the likelihood of an offender recidivating. If an offender is immersed in a group of peers who continue to commit unlawful acts, it will be more likely that this offender will commit more crimes. Offenders are more susceptible to peer pressure just like everyone else and if their peers are committing crimes, they will feel it is necessary to break the law in order to fit in. Substance AbuseResearch has shown that there is a relationship between substance abuse and criminal behavior. Continued substance abuse is an illegal act itself for offenders on supervision. There are other issues related to substance abuse, i.e. the need for money that can lead offenders to committing a crime to get money for drugs. Dysfunctional FamilyIf an offender comes from a dysfunctional family, the offender is more likely to be in a setting where they can learn criminal or substance abuse behaviors. In these situations, offenders may not have ever had a positive role model within the home to help teach morals and values. These offenders are at a disadvantage because from an early age, they are taught that certain values and norms are acceptable.
Low Self-ControlThe inability to control one’s own behavior has been directly linked to crime. Offenders are more likely to commit illegal acts when they do not have the ability to control their impulses. For example, an offender who has low self control is more likely to use narcotics than an offender who has a higher level of self-control. Self-control helps dictate the way offenders behave themselves.
Anti-Social PersonalityCertain personality traits, i.e. callousness, are another factor that have been directly linked to criminality. Offenders who display anti-social personality traits often will not care how their actions affect others and therefore may not feel any remorse for what they have done. The criminal personality helps justify the actions of the offender by making it easier for offenders to commit illegal acts.
Anti-Social ValuesAnti-social values allow offenders to disassociate themselves not only with the community but with the values and norms of the community. These types of attitudes help offenders retreat from their surroundings where they are alone with their thoughts and ideas while having minimal interaction within others within the community who are not engaged in criminal conduct.
T R E A T M E N TCognitive behavioral and social
learning approaches have
answered the question “What
Works?” to change offender
behavior
COGNITIVE THERAPY
disputes the automatic thoughts
provides skills training and role-playing are well-established
offenders develop coping mechanisms for managing the thoughts and feelings
targets interpersonal skills and the acceptance of community standards for responsible behavior
Cognitive behavior is the key to social behavior.
Problem behavior is almost always rooted in modes of thinking that promote and support that behavior
Permanent change in problem behavior demands change at a cognitive level, i.e., change in the underlying beliefs, attitudes, and ways of thinking;
Thinking Patterns
• Impulsive
• Concrete
• Poor problem solving
• Lack empathy
• Extremes
• Entitlement
• Deny victims
• Blame Others
• Deny responsibility
• Uniqueness
How Offenders Think
What Offenders Think
dealing effectively with anti-social logic is the single most important part of…offender
change
COGNITIVE SKILLSCOGNITIVE RESTRUCTURING
COGNITIVE SKILLS TRAINING
based on the premise that offenders have never learned the “thinking skills” required to function productively and responsibly in society
This skill deficit is remedied by systematic training in skills, such as problem solving, negotiation, assertiveness, anger control, and social skills focused on specific social situations, like making a complaint or asking for help
COGNITIVE RESTRUCTURING based on the premise that offenders have learned destructive
attitudes and thinking habits that point them to criminal behavior
consists of identifying the specific attitudes and ways of thinking that point to criminality and systematically replacing them with new attitudes and ways of thinking
are complementary
can be combined in a single program
resocialization can be enhanced and accelerated.
strategies take an objective and systematic approach to change
Change is not coerced: offenders are taught how to think for themselves and to make their own decision
COGNITIVE CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS
regard offenders as fully responsible for their behavior
Thinking is viewed as a type of learned behavior
dishonesty and irresponsibility are the primary targets for change
limit setting and accountability for behavior do not conflict with the cognitive approach to offender change - they support it.
COGNITIVE RESTRUCTURING AND COGNITIVE SKILLS