ANALYSIS AND CONTROL OF ACTIVITIES IN CUSTODIAL HUMAN GROUPS (FROM ANALYSIS OF DELINQUENCY AND AGGRESSION, 1976, BY EMILIO RIBES-INESTA AND ALBERT BANDURA - SEE NCJ-38422)

• NCJ Number: 47767
• Author(s): B DOMINGUEZ; M RUEDA; C MAKHLOUF; A RIVERA
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 20 pages
• Corporate Author: Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS OF PARTICIPATION BY INMATES IN SOCIAL, ATHLETIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND VOCATIONAL ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE PRISON IS DOCUMENTED.

Abstract

THE FIRST EXPERIMENT BEGAN WITH OBSERVATIONS OF INMATES DURING THEIR 1-HOUR FREE-TIME PERIOD, WHICH WAS SPENT IN THE YARD OF THE PRISON. THE EXTENT OF PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL, ATHLETIC, AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES DURING THIS BARELY STRUCTURED PERIOD WAS DETERMINED, AND CONDITIONS WERE THEN MANIPULATED IN VARIOUS WAYS (MAKING MORE MATERIALS AVAILABLE, REINFORCING PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES) AIMED AT INFLUENCING THE INMATES' BEHAVIOR DURING THE FREE PERIOD. THE SECOND EXPERIMENT TOOK PLACE IN THE WORKSHOPS. INMATES' ACTIVITIES IN THE WORKSHOPS WERE OBSERVED, AND TWO EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS WERE INTRODUCED: FIXED PERIOD OF REST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MORNING; AND A TOKEN SYSTEM OFFERING TWO OPTIONS BY WHICH INMATES COULD OBTAIN A 'LUNCH-TIME' REWARD. THE EFFECTS OF THESE EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS ON VOCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE WORKSHOPS WERE MEASURED. THE RESULTS SUGGEST THAT IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO INCREASE THE PARTICIPATION OF INMATES IN EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE THE OPTION OF TAKING PART IN MORE POPULAR ACTIVITIES (SPORTS, INFORMAL LECTURES). IN THE EXPERIMENT, THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH SIMPLE, ECONOMICAL PROCEDURES. IMPLICATIONS OF THESE AND OTHER FINDINGS WITH REGARD TO THE EFFECTS OF SITUATIONAL VARIABLES ON THE BEHAVIOR OF INMATES ARE DISCUSSED. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)