Thought control
One of my tasks this summer has been to facilitate a class for eight young offenders on my unit called "Thinking for a Change" (T4C). I would like to pause, just for a moment, and let the belittling nature of this title sink in (pause)....Sorry, that was just the social worker in me getting a little fiesty.
But I didn't create this curriculum or its title, the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) commissioned it from several experts in cognitive behavioral change techniques. I just do the dirty work of attempting to engage a group of eight incarcerated young men in it's material. Each lesson (there are 22) presents a skill or technique related to the premise that our thoughts control our behavior, therefore, if we control our thoughts we can make better choices about our behavior (aka: quit committing crime).
Hands down, the most compelling piece of the curriculum is the role plays, during which the facilitators, followed by the participants, enact the skills from each lesson. Role play highlights include one in which two young men enacted a "street scene" in which one was selling drugs on the corner and the other attempted to "give him feedback" (a social skill) regarding why his behavior is negative for himself and the community. Of course, they were spectacularly accurate in their depiction of open-air drug dealing - something that I can vouch for having lived three doors down from a major dealing corner for a couple years. The second highlight was a session a week ago in which I played a disgruntled man who just found out his wife had left him and taken his money and his kids. The skill involved was "responding to anger." I had my co-facilitator speechless after walking into her "apartment" yelling, "That bitch better have a god damn good lawyer!" Of course, I got some major cred with the young men for being foul-mouthed and "snappin'" at my unsuspecting "neighbor."
Several of our students report that they are utilizing the techniques of the class and that "it works." The reserach literature also seems to support the effectivness of cognitive behavioral/restructuring techniques in reducing recidivism. A recent meta-analysis says so. I'm not nearly versed enough in the nature and scope of the research to date, but this stuff seems to have growing evidence base. For my part, at this point, I just wish the NIC would reconsider the title...
Comments
Do you think the title may not imply (or infer?? Oh, Abele...) that the "offenders" haven't been thinking before? Do you think it may be referring more to the change that will (hopefully) take affect in these peoples' lives after being given alternative tools/resources to deal w/ issues they've faced to this point? I mean, I can see how it can come across as condescending, if not blatantly insulting, but perhaps reading it a different way makes it more palatable? Anyway, I believe EVERYONE has to learn how to control their behavior, be they rich, poor, black, white. I don't think it's necessarily a product of being raised in a certain socio-economic class. Does this make sense? But if you're just talking about the title "at first sound," I guess I concur...
Posted by: Sarah (the other one) | August 5, 2006 04:40 PM
Thanks for your comment, Sarah (the other one)! First, I fully agree with you that everyone needs to learn to control their behavior, and the evidence seems to be indicating that cognitive-behavioral techniques are useful unto that end. In terms of the title, if it were simply "Thinking for Change," I would have no problem with it. But adding that "a" in between "for" and "change" brings the more derogatory reading to the fore. I am willing to concur that it could be read both positively and negatively, but I blanch at the implication that these young folk haven't been thinking at all. In fact, I think some of them, at least, have been thinking poorly as an adaptational response to their environments. Not that this excuses their criminal behavior, but it contextualizes it nonetheless.
Posted by: self | August 5, 2006 07:43 PM
I completely agree that the "a" changes the tone of the title. Do you think the designers of this program purposely arrived at this title with the intent of its impact being the "holier-than-thou" punch it packs? If so, that is really sad. I would like to think that folks who design programs and curriculum like this would be more sensitive than to pull shit like that.
Posted by: Sarah (the other one) | August 6, 2006 06:45 PM
I am, of course, immensely cynical regarding any "best intentions." But that by no means makes my assumption of guilt the truth of the matter. Despite it's unfortunate title, the curriculum does seem to attempt to put forth some useful skills.
Posted by: self | August 6, 2006 10:27 PM