NCJ Number
46079
Journal
JOURNAL OF JUVENILE AND FAMILY COURTS Volume: 29 Issue: 1 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1978) Pages: 9-12
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE PHENOMENON OF 'GENERALIZATION,' WHICH REFERS TO THE CHANGES THAT RESULT FROM TREATMENT IN JUVENILE TREATMENT PROGRAMS AFTER PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED, IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE CONCEPT OF GENERALIZATION CAN BE DEFINED AS THE AMOUNT OF PERSISTENCE OF TREATMENT EFFECTS AFTER THE TREATMENT HAS BEEN TERMINATED. TWO PREMISES ARE NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT: (1) BEHAVIORAL AND ATTITUDINAL CHANGES THAT DO OCCUR WITH A DELINQUENT IN A TREATMENT SETTING WILL PERSIST AFTER THE TREATMENT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE; AND (2) SUCH BEHAVIORAL AND ATTITUDINAL CHANGES WILL PREVENT FURTHER OFFENSES AFTER THE RETURN TO THE OUTSIDE. GENERALIZATION CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE CATEGORIES: (1) STIMULUS GENERALIZATION (THE TRANSFER OF TREATMENT LEARNED BEHAVIORS TO NONTREATMENT SITUATIONS); (2) RESPONSE GENERALIZATION (THE SPREAD OF TREATMENT SETTING BEHAVIOR TO OTHER BEHAVIORS THAT WERE NOT OF INITIAL CONCERN); AND (3) FOLLOWUP (THE EFFECTS OF TREATMENT SETTING BEHAVIORS UPON BROAD SOCIAL INDICATORS THAT WERE NOT THE DIRECT CONCERN OF THE TREATMENT SETTING). THE NUMBER OF TREATMENT SETTING PROGRAMS REQUIRED TO MAXIMIZE GENERALIZATION CANNOT BE ESTIMATED UNTIL TREATMENT SETTINGS BEGIN TO TARGET TREATMENT GOALS. (AJJ)