Cognitive Behavioral Programs - Term Paper Example

Cognitive Behavioural Programs Introduction Rehabilitation of criminals has been a highly argumentative topic all over the United States. It has been observed that the majority of the criminals are repeat offenders, due to which the correctional institutions top priority has become rehabilitation. This has led to the emergence of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy program that helps in reduction of recidivism for both adults and juveniles. The assumption of this theory is that most people become aware of their own behaviours and thoughts which bring in positive changes in the person. The results of experience are thoughts and most often behaviours are influenced by thoughts. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is considered to be effective for adult and juvenile offenders, violent and abusing offenders, prisoners, parolees along with probationers. This theory is considered to be effective in varied criminal and justice situations both in community and in institutions as the theory focuses on the mass problems that are related with criminal behaviour. For example, this program mostly develops social skills of offenders, moral and critical reasoning, self-control, impulse management, problem solving ability and self-efficacy (Clark, 2010). Explanation of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Programs and Discussion of Its Types Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) program is used as a very significant endeavour for correctional intervention for offenders. CBT is considered as a very effective method for bringing a change in a person. CBT consists of two types of therapies which include cognitive therapies that help in preparation of mind and behavioural therapies that help in conditioning the body. CBT is used as an effective tool for overcoming phobia, drug use, drinking, smoking, quitting behaviours, and in changing the thinking pattern of the people who were involved in criminal activities. CBT aids the offenders in replacement of their criminal behaviours and thinking processes that are unhealthy along with development of prosocial behaviour, empathy and responsibility. CBT entails a set of generalised type of therapy programs which are considered to be very effective for those people who resist change. It facilitates in reducing narcissistic characteristic of self-hatred and works on preparing the mind-set of a person for a behavioural change that might transpire. The six examples of CBT include Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), Reasoning and Rehabilitation (R&R), Thinking For a Change (TFC), Strategies for Self-Improvement and Change (SSC), Relapse Prevention Therapy (RPT) and Aggression Replacement Training (ART). MRT was developed based on the assumption that persons who have high moral of development skills have a lesser possibility of repeating the criminal behaviour. It is very useful for residential treatment of offenders and for those who are required to think in an abstract manner along with taking the perspective of other people. R&R assumes that offenders lack cognitive abilities of self-control, interpersonal problem solving and are egocentric. It is considered to be similar to MRT but it focuses less on morals. TFC was adopted by the National Institute of Corrections for using and disseminating. This program is considered as a mode of approach that is cognitively restructured wherein the offenders observe their thinking pattern, belief and attitudes so that they can improve their actions. To ensure that the program is effective, it has to be used in two periods in a week wherein the actual change comes through problem solving technique and social skills. SSC therapy examines behaviour patterns and thoughts that help in substance abuse and make the person take responsibility for them and become committed to change. RPT is considered to be effective in a good aftercare therapy after residential treatment. It helps in relapse avoidance of any thoughts that are obsessive or compulsive behaviour. ART is used for adult and youth offenders with problems relating to anger management. Cognitive behaviour technique is used in this therapy which recognises and deals with the anger appropriately (Hansen, 2008; Alarid & Carmen, 2010). University of Maryland, as requested by US Congress developed an innovative study for defining what actually works for preventing crime. It evaluated the qualitative aspects of research methods on 500 studies of various programs relating to crime prevention, which drew a conclusion regarding what actually worked while preventing crime. According to this study, the past criminal behaviour predicts the future behaviour of criminals, so it states that preventing criminal activities of recognised offenders can prevent future crime. Majority of criminals serve their time in the community on parole and probation thus it is considered beneficial to focus on the individuals future criminal activities (MacKenzie, 2006). Critique of the Types That Are Effective In Bringing About Change for Involuntary Clients To determine the effectiveness of CBT, a meta-analysis of 50 quasi-experimental and experimental studies were executed on the recidivism of juvenile and adult offenders as involuntary clients that confirmed a positive finding. This led to the exploration of moderators who had the potential to identify the factors related with treatment effects variation. This analysis identified that CBT is an effectual intervention for lowering of recidivism in adult and juvenile offenders. Group oriented behavioural programs were more effectual in decreasing recidivism as compared to the behavioural program. Thus, meta-analysis consistently provided an indication that CBT has a positive impact on recidivism. However, it was identified that there are certain factors that vary in recidivism effects. It was determined that treatment of delinquents having high risk requires an enhanced level of CBT training for individuals providing treatment. CBT program which is set forth for exhibition and research should have larger effects (Landenberger & Lipsey, 2005). It is observed that the CBT approach is considered to have responsibility for the recidivism positive effects. Under this approach, interpersonal problem solving and anger control mechanisms in the CBT program provide enhancements to the effects while behaviour modification and victim impact mechanisms appear to diminish it. CBT programs involve high quality of application that has been represented by treatment dropouts of low proportion. It gives a suggestion that a well implemented CBT program has a very positive effect on recidivism which is produced by programs documented that are most effective in the research studies presented. CBT effects were more apparent for offenders with recidivism of higher risk as compared to the offenders of lower risk that is different to any suppositions that offenders of higher risk might be less adaptable to treatment. CBT approach effectiveness for offenders with higher risk is considered to be consistent with the belief of correctional treatment that is effective. It is worth mentioning that CBT approach is effective for both adults and juveniles. It was also observed that the offenders that undertook treatment in the prison showed decrease in recidivism as compared to those offenders who undertook treatment in the community (Lipsey et al., 2007). Conclusion United States has viewed an emergence in the number of criminals in the recent years, due to which correctional institutions top priority is criminals’ rehabilitation. This has led to the development of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy program that helps in reduction of recidivism for both adults and juveniles. CBT program is used as a very significant program for correctional intervention for offenders. CBT is considered as a very effective method for bringing a change in a person. CBT consists of two types of therapies which include cognitive therapies that facilitate in reconciliation of mind and behavioural therapies that aid in conditioning the body. Correspondingly, based on the outcome of the meta-analysis for judging the effectiveness of CBT, it has been affirmed that a positive outcome emerges regarding the recidivism of juvenile and adult offenders. In addition, it was observed that the offenders that undertook treatment in the prison showed decrease in recidivism as compared to those offenders who undertook treatment in the community. Thus, it can be acknowledged that CBT is effective in bringing in changes within the offenders by a considerable extent. References Alarid, L. & Carmen, R. (2010). Community based corrections. United States: Cengage Learning. Clark, P. (2010). Preventing future crime with cognitive behavioral therapy. NIJ Journal, (265), 22-25. Hansen, C. (2008). Cognitive-behavioral interventions: where they come from and what they do. Federal Probation, 72(2). Landenberger, N.A. & Lipsey, M.W. (2005). The positive effects of cognitive- behavioural programs for offenders: A meta-analysis of factors associated with effective treatment. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 1-26. Lipsey, M. W., Landenberger, N. A. & Wilson, S. J. (2007). Effects of “best practice” CBT on recidivism. United States: Campbell Systematic Reviews. MacKenzie, D. L. (2006). What works in corrections: Reducing the criminal activities of offenders and delinquents. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. Read More