PSYCHIATRY AND SOCIAL CONTROL - TWO CONTRADICTORY SCENARIOS (FROM MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM - ISSUES IN FORENSIC SERVICES, 1979, BY NANCY BERAN AND BEVERLY TOOMEY - SEE NCJ-58232)

• NCJ Number: 58233
• Author(s): S L HALLECK
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 19 pages
• Corporate Author: Praeger Publishers
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

LEGAL RESTRICTIONS ON PSYCHIATRIC INFLUENCE IN SOCIAL CONTROL, THE TREND TOWARD AN INCREASE OF PSYCHIATRIC PRACTICE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SETTINGS, AND PSYCHOTHERAPY AND DRUG PRESCRIPTION AS SOCIAL CONTROL ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

SOCIAL CONTROL CAN BE DEFINED AS EFFORTS ON THE PART OF SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO MINIMIZE BEHAVIOR THAT IS DISRUPTIVE AND COSTLY TO SOCIETY AS A WHOLE AND TO MAXIMIZE BEHAVIOR THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE VALUE SYSTEM OF THE SOCIETY. PSYCHIATRISTS ENGAGE IN SOCIAL CONTROL AS THEY GUIDE AND CONDITION PATIENTS TO ENGAGE IN BEHAVIOR THAT CONFORMS WITH DOMINANT SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS. DRUGS ARE FREQUENTLY USED TO DIMINISH TENDENCIES TOWARD BEHAVIOR THAT IS BOTH UNCOMFORTABLE TO THE CLIENT AND/OR THREATENING TO SOCIETY. PSYCHIATRISTS ARE OFTEN CONSULTED BY OTHER SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS, PARTICULARLY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHEN PERSONS DO NOT ENGAGE IN NORMATIVE BEHAVIOR UNDER THE TYPICAL STIMULI OF SOCIAL CONDITIONING INSTITUTIONS AND CRIMINAL SANCTIONS. ALTHOUGH PSYCHIATRISTS HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT AS THE FINAL BASTION AGAINST THE PERPETUATION AND GROWTH OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR, A MISTRUST OF THE POWER EXERCISED BY THE PSYCHIATRIST IN THE DOMAIN OF SOCIAL CONTROL IS ALSO APPARENT IN THE GROWING NUMBER OF LEGAL RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON PSYCHIATRIC PRACTICE. NARROW LEGAL CONDITIONS FOR THE INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT OF PERSONS TO MENTAL INSTITUTIONS, THE REQUIREMENT OF INFORMED CONSENT TO TREATMENT, AND RESTRICTIONS ON RESEARCH, PARTICULARLY WITH INMATE POPULATIONS, ARE DISCUSSED AS EXAMPLES OF SUCH LEGAL RESTRICTIONS. THERE IS AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR THE PSYCHIATRIST'S SERVICE IN MAKING DISPOSITIONAL DECISIONS REGARDING WHICH OFFENDERS SHALL BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM TO THE FORENSIC SYSTEM. THEY ALSO HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE OF OFFENDERS WHO HAVE BEEN SO REFERRED. OVERCROWDED PRISONS AND DIVERSION OF DISTURBED OFFENDERS TO SPECIALIZED TREATMENT CENTERS ARE REASONS FOR ANTICIPATING THAT THE COMMITMENT OF OFFENDERS TO THE FORENSIC SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE. PROBLEMS CONFRONTING THE PSYCHIATRIST IN HIS ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE FORENSIC SYSTEM ARE DISCUSSED. IT IS ADVISED THAT PSYCHIATRISTS SHOULD ACCEPT THEIR SOCIAL CONTROL ROLE, WHILE EXERCISING IT AS HUMANISTICALLY AS POSSIBLE. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED (RCB)