TEST OF A THEORY OF DELINQUENCY - 'DELINQUENT' BEHAVIORS AMONG INSTITUTIONALIZED DRUG ADDICTS AS A FUNCTION OF AROUSAL AND THE SENSATION-SEEKING MOTIVE

• NCJ Number: 56150
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 41-48
• Author(s): F H FARLEY; H STEINBERGER; A COHEN; H L BARR
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 8 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1 H81 DA 01113
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR, PHYSIOLOGICAL AROUSAL THRESHOLDS, AND SENSATION-SEEKING MOTIVES ARE EXPLORED IN A STUDY OF 185 HOSPITALIZED ADULT MALE DRUG ADDICTS.

Abstract

THE STUDY SUBJECTS WERE DIVIDED INTO TWO GROUPS: GOOD DISCHARGE (PATIENTS WHO LEFT THE HOSPITAL WITH THE CONSENT OF THE STAFF AFTER COMPLETING THE DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAM), AND BAD DISCHARGE (PATIENTS WHO BROKE THE HOSPITAL'S RULES AND EITHER WERE DISMISSED FROM THE PROGRAM OR LEFT WITHOUT PERMISSION). PHYSIOLOGICAL AROUSAL IN BOTH GROUPS WAS ASSESSED BY MEASURING THE SUBJECTS' RESPONSE TO A FLASHING LIGHT (A MEASUREMENT RELATED TO ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC INDICATORS OF AROUSAL). THE MEASURE OF THE SENSATION-SEEKING MOTIVE WAS A 22-ITEM TEST. THE PREDICTION THAT THE BAD DISCHARGE GROUP WOULD CONTAIN A HIGHER NUMBER OF LOW AROUSAL/HIGH SENSATION-SEEKING PERSONS WAS BORNE OUT. APPARENTLY SUCH PATIENTS FOUND THE TREATMENT PROGRAM'S STRICT REGULATIONS AGAINST VIOLENCE AND ACTING OUT 'DEAROUSING,' HAD DIFFICULTY IN ADJUSTING TO THE PROGRAM, AND EITHER GAVE IN TO TEMPTATIONS TO ACT OUT OR LEFT TREATMENT FOR THE MORE STIMULATING AND SENSATION-GIVING LIFE IN THE STREET. THE RESULTS SUGGEST THE PROBABILITY OF A PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS FOR AT LEAST SOME ASPECTS OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY. THEY ALSO SUGGEST THAT THE HIGH-RISK, DELINQUENCY-PRONE, LOW AROUSAL/HIGH SENSATION-SEEKING INDIVIDUAL, WHEN IDENTIFIED EARLY, MAY BE TREATED BY ENSURING THAT THE INDIVIDUAL'S NEEDS FOR SENSATION ARE MET IN SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE WAYS. THUS, ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM MAY BE BIOLOGICAL IN ORIGIN, THE TREATMENT IMPLICATIONS ARE ENVIRONMENTAL. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH ARE OFFERED. NO TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)