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Systematic Desensitization for Modifying Negative Attitudes of Delinquent Boys

NCJ Number
111442
Journal
Indian Journal of Criminology Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1988) Pages: 53-58
Author(s)
R Kannappan; K V Kaliappan
Date Published
1988
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This evaluation of an Indian program designed to change delinquent boys' negative attitudes shows the effectiveness of systematic desensitization in achieving this goal.
Abstract
The treatment focused on changing negative attitudes toward self, family, institutions, and society. Each subject unit of disturbance was arranged in a hierarchy for counter conditioning based on a detailed interview with each delinquent. The boys were trained in relaxation before undergoing the systematic desensitization therapy. They were then instructed to imagine scenes from the hierarchy of disturbance-provoking stimuli until each delinquent was completely desensitized to the most upsetting scene in the disturbance hierarchy. To assess treatment effectiveness, a sample of 70 boys was randomly selected and equally assigned to experimental and control groups. The Jesness inventory was administered to both groups before and after the treatment period. The comparison between preassessments and postassessments for both groups indicated that the experimental subjects experienced significant reduction in social maladjustment, autism, alienation, withdrawal, and social anxiety. Value orientation showed positive improvement, and the significant moderate rise in repression and denial also indicated personality growth. Scores on immaturity showed no change after treatment, and the scores on asocial index increased. The improvements were maintained as long as 3 months after termination of therapy. 3 tables and 6 references.