4.1 - Assess the use of Individualistic theories in policy develpoment Flashcards
What are the 4 theories??
Freud
Eysenck
Learning theories
Cognitive
Explain Psychoanalysis?
Based on Freud. It sees weak superego as a cause of criminality as they lack a moral force to curb selfish instincts.
This can reslut from early poor socialisation
3 facts about psychoanalysis
Therapy helps patients verbalise thoughts.
Aim is too access the unconcious mind, where repressed trauma is causing criminal behaviour
The goal of the therapist is too bring trauma to their conscious experience where it can be dealt with directly
Very lengthy - freud saw his patients for 5 times a week often for years
Another example for Psychoanalysis??
Aichhorn 1939 applied psychanalytic ideas to police when treating young offenders. This was beacuse they moslty had uncaring or absent parents. Normal socialisation had not taken place yet.
Is psychoanalysis effective??
Very time consuming and expensive
few positive points for classic methods with offenders
Power balance can create ethical issues.
A patient could discover some very painful memories.
What is Operant conditioning??
All behaviour is a result from reinforcement or punishment.
Argued that criminal behaviour is learned through reinforcement of specific behaviour. If the consequences is more rewarding than the punishment is bad they will offend.
Token economics - if follows list of behaviours prisoner gets a token which can get rewards.
Is token economics effective??
Fo and O’Donnell 1975 found a buddy system in which young volunteers reinforced socially acceptable behaviour to a young offender whs behaviour improved.
What is aversion therapy??
Applies to Eysencks personality theory to the treatment of sex offenders.
He states that criminals are more likley to be strongly Extraverted and Neurotic = harder to condition.
It must be stronger - offenders think about unaccpetable sotiation in which they are aroused. Then an electric shock and then the process is repeated
Is aversion therapy effective??
Very limited sucess, usually short term and its use on gay people has been critisied by human rights
What are cognitive theories??
Cognitive theories have been applied to offender treatment programmes - cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Cognitive theories state that our cognition shape our behaviour including offending behaviour. CBT programmes aim to change offenders’ thought and attitudes to change their behaviour.
What is an example of CBT??
Think First - Programme of group and one–to–one sessions for repeat offenders on probation. It aims to enable offenders to control their thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. It teaches problem-solving skills, consequential thinking (what will be the consequences of my course of actions, for me, and others?), decision making and seeing things from the other’s point of view. It also provides social interaction and moral reasoning training.
Is think first effective??
Those completing the programme are 30% less likely to be re – convicted than offenders who receive an alternative community sentence. However, non – completion rate is often high too.
Another example of CBT??
ART is a programme for violent or
aggressive offenders. It involves:
Interpersonal skills training, through role play.
Anger control techniques, dealing with emotions and providing offenders with alternative courses of action
instead of violence.
Moral reasonings training that challenges their attitudes by confronting them with moral dilemmas to consider
Is ART effective??
Evaluations show lower re-conviction rates. However, some evaluations have found that although thinking skills improved, behaviour did not.
What did the home office say about CBT??
“What works” policy which has criteria we have to meet -
A clear plan and proven methods for altering offenders’ behaviour
Careful matching of offenders to the right programme, in terms of
their offence risk of re-offending and learning abilities
Targeting the risk factors that lead to offending
A successful programme must show that it improves offenders’ skill and their everyday behaviour and reduce their re-offending.
