CONTRIBUTIONS OF J L MORENO TO THE TREATMENT OF THE OFFENDER

• NCJ Number: 55185
• Journal: GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHODRAMA Volume: 27 Issue: 1-4 Dated: (1974) Pages: 147-156
• Author(s): M R HASKELL
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Beacon House, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING DINNER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHODRAMA, APRIL 27, 1974

Annotation

GROUP THERAPY, PSYCHODRAMA, AND SOCIOMETRIC THEORY ARE DISCUSSED AS THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF J.L. MORENO TO THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS.

Abstract

WHEN DR. J.L. MORENO CAME TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1928, HE HAD ALREADY WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED A GREAT DEAL ON ENCOUNTER, SPONTANEITY THEATER, AND PSYCHODRAMA. IT WAS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT HE MORE FULLY DEVELOPED GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY AND SOCIOMETRY. HIS FIRST JOB IN THE UNITED STATES WAS AS A PSYCHIATRIST IN SING SING PRISON, FOLLOWED BY PSYCHIATRIC WORK IN HUDSON TRAINING SCHOOL FOR GIRLS IN NEW YORK STATE. THE CONTRIBUTION OF MORENO MOST WIDELY APPLIED HAS BEEN GROUP THERAPY. IN 1952, ONLY 12 PERCENT OF THE 312 PENAL AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS CONTACTED IN A SURVEY REPORTED HAVING A PROGRAM OF GROUP THERAPY, BUT BY THE 1970'S ALMOST EVERY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OFFERS SOME PROGRAM OF GROUP THERAPY. PSYCHODRAMA, SOCIODRAMA, AND ROLE PLAYING, OTHER INNOVATIONS OF MORENO'S, ARE ALSO WIDELY USED. MORENO'S MOST NEGLECTED CONCEPT OF OFFENDER TREATMENT RELATES TO SOCIOMETRIC THEORY WHICH MAINTAINS THAT THE INDIVIDUAL IS MOST INFLUENCED IN THE CONTEXT OF RELATIONSHIPS RATHER THAN IN ISOLATION. ACCORDING TO SOCIOMETRIC THEORY, INDIVIDUALS SEEK OUT INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP RELATIONSHIPS WHERE THEY ARE ACCEPTED AND THEIR PERSONALITIES AND FORMS OF SELF-EXPRESSION ARE AFFIRMED AS BEING OF WORTH TO THOSE WITH WHOM THEY INTERACT. WHEN REJECTION OCCURS, IT TENDS TO BE RECIPROCAL. THE PRISON CIRCUMSTANCE VIOLATES ALL THE SOCIOMETRIC PRINCIPLES BY WHICH A HEALTHY NONCRIMINAL PERSONALITY IS FORMED. IN PRISON, PERSONS ARE VIRTUALLY FORCED TO FIND ACCEPTANCE IN A GROUP OF CRIMINALS WHOSE REJECTION BY SOCIETY IS REFLECTED IN THEIR TREATMENT BY CORRECTIONAL STAFF, THUS FOMENTING AN ATMOSPHERE OF RECIPROCAL HOSTILITY BETWEEN STAFF AND INMATE. MORENO'S THEORIES OF SOCIOMETRY WOULD DICTATE THE ELIMINATION OF MASS INSTITUTIONALIZATION AND THE CULTIVATION OF COMMUNITY TREATMENT CENTERS HOUSING ABOUT 20 PERSONS, WHERE POSITIVE GROUP DYNAMICS WOULD BE NURTURED. PSYCHOPATHS WOULD BE SEPARATED FROM OTHER OFFENDERS FOR SPECIAL CUSTODIAL TREATMENT. PROCEDURES FOR THE APPLICATION OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DISCUSSED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.