NCJ Number
53526
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A PERSONALITY STUDY OF PROBATED FELONS ARE PRESENTED WITH CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF PROBATION EFFECTIVENESS.
Abstract
TO GENERATE EFFECTIVE PLANNING FOR PROBATION PROGRAMS A STUDY WAS CONDUCTED OF THE PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF OFFENDER GROUPS. AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PERSONALITY CONSTRUCTS UPON WHICH CERTAIN BEHAVIORS ARE BASED MAY HELP TAILOR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT TO THE UNIQUE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES EXHIBITED BY FELONS IN A PROBATION SETTING. THE SPECIFIC INVESTIGATION OF MANIPULATIVE BEHAVIOR CONCERNED A CONSTRUCT TERMED THE MACHIAVELLIAN PERSONALITY WHICH IS CHARACTERIZED BY GUILE, DECEIT, AND OPPORTUNISM. IT IS SUGGESTED BY THE INVESTIGATION THAT THE HIGH LEVEL OF MANIPULATIVE BEHAVIOR OBSERVED AMONG PROBATED FELONS IS A PRODUCT OF THE SITUATIONAL PRESSURES AND DEMANDS OF PROBATION. IT IS NOT ACCEPTED THAT THERE IS AN ABNORMALLY HIGH NUMBER OF MACHIAVELLIAN PERSONALITIES AMONG FELONS THAT HAVE BEEN PROBATED. IT IS IMPLIED THAT ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL MANIPULATIVE BEHAVIOR IN A PROBATION SETTING WOULD BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IF THE OFFICERS' EFFORTS WERE DIRECTED AT MODIFYING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND AT DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVE COPING MECHANISMS AND INTERACTION SKILLS IN PROBATIONERS UNDER THEIR CHARGE. THE STUDY OF THREE TYPE OF SELFCONTROL--INTERNALITY, POWERFUL OTHERS, AND CHANCE-INDICATES THE POTENTIAL SUCCESS OF PROGRAMS WHICH USE BIOFEEDBACK, MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROGRAMMING, AND SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION. A TWO-PART FORMAT IS RECOMMENDED FOR THE INTEGRATION OF THE TREATMENT AND SUPERVISION CONSIDERATIONS OF PROBATION. THE INITIAL PHASE SHOULD REFLECT A HIGHLY STRUCTURED CONTRACT OF EXPECTATIONS OF BEHAVIOR, EVOLVING INTO THE SECOND PHASE USING THE MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROGRAMMING PROCEDURE IN WHICH THE PROBATIONER ASSUMES A ROLE IN DECISIONMAKING PROCESSES. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)