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Behaviour Modification and the Treatment of Offenders

Behaviour Modification and the Treatment of Offenders AUST. & N.Z. JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY (December, 1974): 7,4 Behaviour Modification and the Treatment _of Offenders SUZANNE BETTISON* and CAMERON STUART** INTRODUCTION THIS ARTICLE considers certain aspects of the South Australian penal system· .which can be 'seen, in the light of well-es'tablished learning theory and p·rinciples, to be working against its aims of deterrence and rehabilitation. The goal of a penal system is an overall reduction in delinquency. Such a system thus repre­ sents an attempt to modif¥ behaviour by exchanging the acceptable for the unac­ ceptable. At the sentence. level, this modification is presently attempted by way of monetary penalties, probation and irriprisonment. This article examines the probable efficacy of these methods in achieving this goal in the light of current psychological theory. A summary is included of some of the main principles of learning which have been effectively put into practice in the rehabilitation of psychotics, disturbed children and adults, and juvenile offenders. We suggest ways in which changes in the present systelTI could incorporate such principles and facilitate the devel­ opment of more acceptable behaviour in place of that which leads to sentencing. We also indicate how we see psychologists contributing more effectively within the penal http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology SAGE

Behaviour Modification and the Treatment of Offenders

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References (4)

Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
Copyright © by SAGE Publications
ISSN
0004-8658
eISSN
1837-9273
DOI
10.1177/000486587400700405
Publisher site
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Abstract

AUST. & N.Z. JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY (December, 1974): 7,4 Behaviour Modification and the Treatment _of Offenders SUZANNE BETTISON* and CAMERON STUART** INTRODUCTION THIS ARTICLE considers certain aspects of the South Australian penal system· .which can be 'seen, in the light of well-es'tablished learning theory and p·rinciples, to be working against its aims of deterrence and rehabilitation. The goal of a penal system is an overall reduction in delinquency. Such a system thus repre­ sents an attempt to modif¥ behaviour by exchanging the acceptable for the unac­ ceptable. At the sentence. level, this modification is presently attempted by way of monetary penalties, probation and irriprisonment. This article examines the probable efficacy of these methods in achieving this goal in the light of current psychological theory. A summary is included of some of the main principles of learning which have been effectively put into practice in the rehabilitation of psychotics, disturbed children and adults, and juvenile offenders. We suggest ways in which changes in the present systelTI could incorporate such principles and facilitate the devel­ opment of more acceptable behaviour in place of that which leads to sentencing. We also indicate how we see psychologists contributing more effectively within the penal

Journal

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology – SAGE

Published: Dec 1, 1974

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