NCJ Number
26230
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 39 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1975) Pages: 20-23
Date Published
1975
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTS OF INMATE DISSIMULATION AND MANIPULATION DURING TREATMENT ARE DISCUSSED WITH RESPECT TO THE INDIVIDUAL INMATE, OTHER INMATES, THE TREATMENT PROGRAM, AND STAFF, AND SEVERAL COUNTERMEAUSRES ARE SUGGESTED.
Abstract
TWO TYPES OF INMATE DISSIMULATION ARE NOTED. IN THE FIRST, THE INMATE DELIBERATELY CONTROLS HIS BEHAVIOR IN ORDER TO MANIPULATE STAFF. IN THE SECOND TYPE, CLIENTS MAY BE SINCERE IN VERBALIZING POSITIVE CHANGE BUT ARE UNABLE TO ACTUALIZE THESE CHANGES. CLIENT DISSIMULATION IS NOTED TO BE MOST DIFFICULT IN GROUP THERAPY SITUATIONS AND EASIEST IN AN INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT RELATIONSHIP. DISSIMULATING BEHAVIOR NOT ONLY HARMS THE INMATE BY BLOCKING ALL TREATMENT, BUT MAY CAUSE CYNICISM IN OTHER INMATES WHO MAY REALIZE WHAT IS GOING ON, MAY UNDERMINE THE TREATMENT PROGRAM, AND MAY CAUSE STAFF CONFLICTS AS DIFFERENT PEOPLE SEE THE INMATE ACTING IN DIFFERENT AND INCONSISTENT WAYS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT CLIENT DISSIMULATION MAY BE DECREASED BY OBSERVING ANY DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN WHAT A CLIENT VERBALIZES AND WHAT HE ACTUALLY DOES; BY CONCENTRATING ON OBJECTIVE, MEASURABLE, OBSERVABLE BEHAVIORS DURING TREATMENT; BY CONFRONTING THE CLIENT WITH INCONSISTENCIES; AND BY DEVELOPING COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PROGRAMS WHICH CONCENTRATE ON ALL ASPECTS OF CLIENT BEHAVIOR.