A Positive Psychology Program for Inmates: Paving Paths for Reformation

What is Positive Criminology?

Positive Psychology Program is a concept introduced by Ronel and Elisha (2010), which consists of different theories and models. It focuses on individuals’ encounters with forces and influences regarding positive experiences through formal and informal therapy programs and interventions.

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According to this concept, these positive experiences helps individuals distance them from being deviant and committing crime. Interventions and therapies can come in the form of:

1. self-help groups;
2. emphasis of positive social elements, like exposure to goodness, social acceptance, and reintegrative shaming;
3. based on positive personality traits, like resilience and coherence.

Traditional criminology focuses mainly on looking at the factors and processes that lead individuals and groups to be deviant and criminal behavior. Positive criminology broadens the conventional perspective of implementing treatment and rehabilitation of individuals and groups who are tisks and offenders by highlighting positive experiences that may prevent or discourage continued criminal behavior. It is usually integrated in a positive psychology program or into an existing refomational program.

The theories and models used in positive criminology are not inherently new but how it is included and used in the conceptualization led it to a shift in discourse and research in criminology. The concept of positive criminology focuses on positive and factors strengths (than on risks and criminogenic factors) that help individuals to rehabilitate and successfully integrate back into the community.

Studies and practices developed over the past decade have confirmed and reinforced the positive criminology perspective’s assumptions. Despite its specific limitations, positive criminology provides a promising platform for further developments and innovations in research in theory (e.g., positive victimology, spiritual criminology) and practice (e.g., restorative justice, problem-solving courts, community policing).

Interventions used in Positive Criminology

Strengths-based approach: The Good Life Model (GLM)

Strengh-based interventions are an example of a positive psychology program framework. The Good Life Model, or GLM, was first published in 2002 by Professor Tony Ward. It is a theoretical and rehabilitation framework that increases the consideration of accepted empirically derived principles of effective correctional programming.

But why use this model?

When integrated appropriately, GLM can enhance outcomes of cognitive-behavioural, RNR (Risk-Need-Responsitivity) based treatment programs by keeping offenders meaningfully engaged in treatment and activities that they seek. However, a misguided application can potentially increase the risks that practitioners work to prevent and manage.

The Good Lives Model is popularly used in sexual offense treatment programs (McGrath, Cumming, Burchard, Zeoli, & Ellerby,2010) and is used in different jurisdictions worldwide. The GLM uses a strengths-based approach to offender rehabilitation by assisting clients in envisioning and implementing meaningful life plans through a non-offending path.

Preliminary research has suggested that the GLM can increase client engagement in treatment and reduce dropouts from rehabilitation programs (e.g., Simons, McCullar, & Tyler, 2006). Dropping out of rehabilitation programs is a factor usually associated with higher reoffending rates (Hanson et al.,2002; Olver, Stockdale,& Wormith,2011).

But to fully understand this model in a positive psychology program, here is an overview of the model:

• Central assumption – offending results from problems that come up as an individual seeks to reach primary human goods.
• Primary Goods – reflect certain states of mind. It can be the outcomes and experiences deemed necessary for all humans to have in their lives.
• Examples of Primary Goods – relationships/friendships, happiness, and experiencing a mastery in work and leisure activities.
• Identification of primary goods that are important to clients and those implicated in the offense process. It is a fundamental component of assessment because treatment aims to assist clients in attaining these primary goods through personally meaningful, rewarding, and non-harmful means as re-offense risk is also being addressed (Ward, Yates, & Long,2006; Yates & Ward, 2008; Yates, Prescott,& Ward,2010;).
• Recidivism (or re-offense risk factors) and criminogenic needs are regarded as hindrances that and source of frustration in attaining primary human goods through pro-social ways. These risk factors and needs are directly addressed and targeted in their treatment plans as a vital step in assisting the clients to attain primary goods in their lives.
• Clients participate and become invested in the treatment programs because they aim to help them attain a fulfilling life and reduce and teach them to manage risk. Ward, Mann,& Gannon (2007) once mentioned, “…offenders want better lives, not simply the promise of less harmful ones”(pp.106).

Unsurprisingly, any new model or technique always encounters problems in its application as there will be only a few existing materials for assessment and structured methods. Even GLM proposed in 2002-2003 has only translated into practice by 2010-2011. By today there are available assessment protocols (Yates et al.,2009), clinicians guide(Yates et al.,2010), client workbook (Yates& Prescott,2011b), and overview for integrating the GLM into structured treatment programs to aid the implementation of the model

Yoga, meditation programs, and mindfulness

Yoga, mindfulness, and meditation programs have been used in correctional facilities to encourage reflection, mindfulness, and patience and reduce stress and were found to affect prisoners’ psychological well-being and behavioral functioning positively. These are also the usual positive psychology programs that are used in various settings.

Yoga

A yoga program was instituted by the United States at San Quentin State Prison in 2002 by James Fox and was later named as the Prison Yoga Project. This yoga program teaches asana,
Pranayama and other meditation practices. These lessons teach clients in training the mind about how not to be reactive, which helps individuals cope with their past trauma and develop more productive behavioral patterns.

Other jails and prisons, a bit more than 100, in the United States have replicated the Prison Yoga Project programs. Research has found that using low-intensity, long-duration programs noted more success than shorter, lower-intensity ones (Auty, Cope, & Liebling, 2015) and significantly to improved a prisoner’s quality of life, prison culture, and related outcomes.

Meditation programs

A meditation program initiated by Freedom Project, which former inmates and volunteers run in Washington D.C., focuses on meditation and nonviolent communication. It was found in a study about those prisoners who are engaged in the program were less likely to commit re-offense, were less angry and displayed having increased feelings of self-compassion. The study also showed a striking difference in the communication manner of trained and untrained inmates.

Mindfulness interventions

A high incidence of mental illness in prisons is also regarded as a factor in re-offense. And there are noted incidences that some ex-prisoners were resorting to crime to return to prison life.
An engagement in mindfulness interventions has shown a reduction in somatic symptoms and a decrease in the likelihood of returning to deviant behavior. Positive psychology programs abound in the variety of mindfulness interventions. It would be a good study to also look into the different effects of these activities someday.

Meditation programs and mindfulness activities are usually incorporated in positive psychology program plans. I was delighted to know that a positive experience is no longer exclusive to those who can afford it. In a few years, we’ll see how these positive criminology methods will bear fruits for the next generations!

 

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