Self and environmental perceptions as a preliminary means of predicting potential management problems and potential recidivism among youths in a correctional setting
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Abstract
A predictive instrument that differentiates groups of offenders in a correctional setting at the time of incarceration allows new approaches of rehabilitative intervention to be tried before undesirable behavior becomes apparent. The Semantic Differential Technique was used to investigate the self and environmental perceptions of 89 male residents of the Federal Youth Center, Englewood, Colorado, to determine if such variables had predictive value in differentiating groups of Least Trouble (N=30) and Most Trouble (N=29) residents and to determine if the Most Trouble Group responded in a manner similar to the Recidivist Group's (N=30) ratings. Of the experimental concepts used to test the Hypothesis, the ones that were significant were concerned with self and past perceptions. The Least Trouble Group tended to respond more favorably while the Recidivist and Most Trouble Groups tended to respond less favorably to these concepts. Age, education, crimes for which residents were incarcerated, and tendency to respond in a socially desirable manner appeared to be more important variables in predicting group membership than the experimental concepts. Least Trouble Group members tended to be older, more educated, more likely to respond in a socially desirable manner, and less likely to be Indian than the other two groups. The Least Trouble residents were less likely to be incarcerated for Theft, Burglary, and Interstate Transportation of Stolen Motor Vehicles and more likely to be incarcerated for Drug related crimes than the other two groups. The Most Trouble Group members tended to be younger, less educated, and more likely to be Indian than the other two groups. Recidivist Group members were more likely to be incarcerated for Interstate Transportation of Stolen Motor Vehicles and Theft and less likely to be incarcerated for Drug related crimes than the other two groups. The degrees of internalization of conventional norms and values indicating an ability to adjust to the environment and control impulsive behavior were suggested as possible explanations for some of these differences. The Least Trouble Group's tendency to respond in a socially desirable manner was discussed in terms of their possible greater sensitivity to the expectations of others and their possible higher need for avoidance of punishment than the sensitivity and need for avoidance of punishment of the other two groups.