NCJ Number
57414
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
AN EXAMINATION OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DYNAMICS OF INTRAPERSONAL AND INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT LEADS INTO A DISCUSSION OF HOW CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS SHOULD INTERVENE IN SUCH SITUATIONS.
Abstract
THREE GENERAL TYPES OF INTRAPERSONAL (OR INTERNAL) CONFLICT ARE APPROACH-APPROACH, AVOIDANT-AVOIDANT, AND APPROACH-AVOIDANT. AN EXAMPLE OF AN APPROACH-AVOIDANT INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT OCCURS WHEN CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS NEED THE MONEY OFFERED FOR SMUGGLING CONTRABAND TO INMATES YET KNOW THE VERY REAL THREAT OF JOB LOSS AND PERHAPS IMPRISONMENT IF DETECTED. CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, IN FACT, CAN BE UNDERSTOOD AS THE OUTCOME OF IMPULSIVE, IMPATIENT RESPONSES TO THE CONFLICT CREATED WHEN GRATIFICATION OF NEEDS ARE FRUSTRATED. THE RESULTING FRUSTRATION CAN LEAD TO AGGRESSION WHICH CAN BE EXPRESSED IN PRISON VIOLENCE. INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO OR MORE INMATES CAN BE EXPLAINED BY EXAMINING THREE BASIC ATTITUDES OF MOST INMATES. THEY INCLUDE REJECTION OF CONVENTIONAL BELIEFS AS PHONY OR UNTRUE, REJECTION OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT ANYONE COULD REALLY CARE FOR THEM, AND REJECTION OF THE BELIEF THAT BEING LAW-ABIDING PAYS OFF. AN EXAMINATION OF THE VARIETY OF DEVICES TO DEAL WITH CONFLICTS ADDRESSES MECHANISMS OF DENIAL, ESCAPE, AND SHIFT AND SUBSTITUTION. THE SEVEN BASIC COMPONENTS OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION (ATTENDING, EMPATHY, RESPECT, GENUINESS, CONCRETENESS, SELF-DISCLOSURE, AND CONFRONTATION), WHICH CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS CAN USE, ARE PRESENTED IN DETAIL. CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS SHOULD CAREFULLY ASSESS CONFLICT SITUATIONS TO DETERMINE HOW THEY SHOULD RESPOND AND TO ANALYZE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THEIR INTERVENTION. THEY SHOULD BE SENSITIVE TO OTHER PEOPLE AND TREAT INMATES IN THE MANNER THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.