Changing Criminal Personalities Although some rehabilitation programs have been

Question

Changing Criminal Personalities Although some rehabilitation programs have been effective at curbing recidivism, others have been less effective and still others unsuccessful. The rehabilitation programs shown to be the most effective follow a series of principles known broadly as the principles of effective correctional treatment. These principles provide evidence-based indicators and practices of effective correctional treatment to determine who should be targeted for rehabilitation programs. Since rehabilitation programs have been shown to actually increase criminal behavior for low-risk offenders, high-risk offenders are usually the target for these programs. Screening processes and risk assessment tools determine the risk level for offenders. In addition, risk assessment tools determine factors to target for change. For example, if an offender has a substance abuse problem, then his or her rehabilitation program should include a substance abuse treatment component. If anger management has emerged as a contributing factor to criminal behavior, then programs aimed at behavior change are vital. The hope is that by addressing risk factors associated with criminal behavior, offenders will refrain from committing another crime when released. To prepare for this Discussion: •Review Chapter 8 of the course text, The Psychology of Criminal Conduct. Focus on the impact that social contexts have on the development of personality traits. •Review Chapter 11 of the course text, The Psychology of Criminal Conduct. Pay attention to the explanation of the principles of effective correctional treatment. Reflect on how the risk principle determines who should be targeted for change and how the need principle determines what should be targeted for change. •Review Chapter 13 of the course text, The Psychology of Criminal Conduct. Consider whether punishment strategies are able to reduce recidivism among offenders. Reflect on whether punishment strategies are incompatible with rehabilitation strategies. •Choose three to four personality traits that criminals often possess. Then, reflect on how the strategies of punishment and rehabilitation can be combined to diminish the negative behavior associated with these traits. With these thoughts in mind: Post by Day 4 a description of three or four criminal personality traits and the behaviors they often produce that are likely to be positively affected by combining strategies of rehabilitation and punishment. Explain why the behaviors associated with these personality traits would positively benefit from the combination of strategies.

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Explanation / Answer

1. The society or the personal context plays a vital role in the personality development of an individual. The society can make an individual good or bad. If a child is brought up with continuous harassment and abusing then there is a probability that he can commit the crime to the society. Generally, an individual's behavior is shaped by the circumstances which he is exposed to in his life. The loneliness and avoidance can make an individual psychologically unfit which can persuade him to perform criminal activities. Under such societal circumstances, one may develop the personality traits like ego, anger, more reserved, inferiority complex etc.

2. Effective correctional treatments can be given to these psychologically affected criminals so that they can be brought back to the normal life. These correctional treatments have to be performed with at most care and appropriate treatment should be given so that the criminal tendencies fo not enhance. According to the principle of effective correctional treatments if an individual with less criminal tendency is given with an intense treatment, it can enhance his criminal tendency.

According to this principle the criminals who has committed a major crime can be given with such treatments. Under this principle, the officials can take the background or circumstances of the criminal which made him to commit the crime. If it is the situation which made him to do it then he can be selected for the treatment. One can commit a crime through prolonged disturbances and harassment from the society. Such individuals should have to be brought back to life through correction treatments. So as to induce change in the criminals the principle should target what should be changed. Not only his personality traits has to be changed but also he or she should be allowed to live in a society so that he can lead a peaceful life.

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