NCJ Number
49816
Journal
Corrective and Social Psychiatry and Journal of Behavior Technology Methods and Therapy Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: (1976) Pages: 6-11
Date Published
1976
Length
6 pages
Annotation
REALITY THERAPY, A GROUP THERAPY WITH BEHAVIORISTIC GOALS, IS DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF HOW IT FUNCTIONED IN ONE CORRECTIONAL SETTING.
Abstract
REALITY THERAPY, AS DESCRIBED BY ITS ORIGINATOR, DR. WILLIAM GLASSER, STRESSES THE ACTIVE ROLE THE CLIENT MUST TAKE TO CHANGE HIS STYLE OF LIVING. THE GOALS OF THE THERAPY ARE THREEFOLD: TO HELP EACH INDIVIDUAL TO FULFILL HIS OWN NEEDS TO LOVE AND BE LOVED WITHOUT DENYING ANY PART OF THE REAL WORLD; TO TEACH THE INDIVIDUAL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RESPONSIBLE AND IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR; AND TO HELP THE INDIVIDUAL EVALUATE AND MODIFY HIS OWN BEHAVIOR BY CONCENTRATING ON MORAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS. THE FOCAL POINT OF THE DISCUSSION IS ON A PROGRAM OF REALITY THERAPY USED WITH A GROUP OF 43 MALE INMATES INCARCERATED AT ONE OF FLORIDA'S MAJOR INSTITUTIONS. IT WAS A PILOT PROGRAM WHERE ALL PARTICPATION WAS VOLUNTARY. THE PROGRAM CONSISTED OF FIVE GROUPS OF APPROXIMATELY NINE INMATES WHO ENGAGED IN THREE 5-WEEK CONTRACTS NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THE INMATE AND THE THERAPIST. THESE WERE THEN DISCUSSED AS PART OF WEEKLY GROUP SESSIONS. EACH CONTRACT REQUIRED A GREATER BEHAVIORAL EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE INMATE THAN THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT. AT THE END OF THE 15 WEEKS, THE INMATE-CLIENTS ANONYMOUSLY COMPLETE A QUESTIONNAIRE EXPRESSING THEIR REACTIONS TO THE PROGRAM. OVER 80 PERCENT OF THE PARTICIPANTS RATED THE PROGRAM AS BEING VERY HELPFUL TO THEM, AND ALL PARTICIPANTS FOUND REALITY THERAPY HELPFUL. IT WAS THE OBSERVATION OF THE RESEARCHER THAT REALITY THERAPY COULD WORK IN PRISONS, BECAUSE ITS STRENGTHS COINCIDE WITH MANY OF THE WEAKNESSES EXHIBITED BY A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. A SAMPLE OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE IS INCLUDED, AND RESULTS OF THE SURVEY ARE PROVIDED. COPIES OF THE CONTRACTS USED IN THE PROGRAM ARE INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIXES. (RCB)