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