EMOTIONAL AND DEFENSIVE REACTIONS OF COTTAGE PARENTS (FROM PRISON, STUDIES IN INSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATION AND CHANGE EDITED BY DONALD R. CRESSEY SEE NCJ-02358)

• NCJ Number: 6960
• Author(s): G H WEBER
• Date Published: 1961
• Length: 40 pages
• Corporate Author: Holt, Rinehart and Winston
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: CHAPTER 5, P 189-228

Annotation

DEFENSE MECHANISMS OF COTTAGE PARENTS RELATED TO THE BEHAVIOR OF DELINQUENTS AND TO THE PROCESS OF CHANGE IN AN INSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT PROGRAM.

Abstract

A PROGRESSIVE REHABILITATION PROGRAM WAS INTRODUCED INTO A PREVIOUSLY CUSTODIAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION. THE NEW PROGRAM CONCENTRATED ON MEETING INDIVIDUAL NEEDS THROUGH DIAGNOSTIC STUDY AND THERAPY. INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION WAS STRESSED. AS AUTHORITY AND SUPERVISION GRADUATED FROM MILITARISTIC TO CONSULTIVE AND ADVISORY, INTERNAL COMMUNICATION BECAME MORE DIRECT. THESE CHANGES, IN ADDITION TO THE INTRODUCTION OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND CLINICAL PERSONNEL, CONTRIBUTED TO A CONFLICT IN THE ORGANIZATION OF WORK AND ALLOCATION OF PRESTIGE. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT RESIDENTS AND COTTAGE PARENTS WERE EXPECTED TO ASSUME WERE IN CONFLICT WITH ROLES PREVIOUSLY PLAYED. COTTAGE PARENTS HAD DIFFICULTY ACCEPTING INITIAL REGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR OF RESIDENTS AS A STEP IN THE TOTAL TREATMENT PROCESS. DEFENSE MEHANISMS, SUCH AS AVOIDANCE, REPRESSION AND REJECTION WERE EMPLOYED BY THE COTTAGE PARENTS FOR RELIEF OF INNER CONFLICT. EVENTUALLY, EMOTIONAL AND DEFENSE MECHANISMS DIMINISHED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF MODIFIED EXPECTANCIES, GREATER TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING OF RESIDENTS, AND INCREASED SUPPORT GIVEN TO COTTAGE PARENTS. THESE PROBLEMS REFLECTED THE WIDE GAP IN THE FIELD OF INSTITUTIONAL DELINQUENCY TREATMENT BETWEEN THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES, ON THE ONE HAND, AND THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ATTITUDES NECESSARY FOR THEIR SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION, ON THE OTHER. AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED