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PARANOID PRISONERS

NCJ Number
60960
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 23 Issue: 1 Dated: (1979) Pages: 25-34
Author(s)
E M SCOTT
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE FOR DOCTORS AND CORRECTIONS PROFESSIONALS EXAMINES PARANOIA IN PRISONERS AND SUGGESTS TREATMENT METHODS.
Abstract
CRIMINALS ARE OFTEN DIAGNOSED AS SOCIOPATHS WHEN PARANOIA WOULD BE MORE ACCURATE. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SOCIOPATHS AND PARANOIDS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) SOCIOPATHS ARE INCAPABLE OF LOYALTY, GUILT, OR LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE; PARANOIDS, WHILE EXCESSIVELY SELF-IMPORTANT AND SUSPICIOUS, ARE LOYAL TO AND HAVE FEELINGS FOR MEMBERS OF THEIR OWN GROUP; (2) PARANOID BEHAVIOR AS OPPOSED TO SOCIOPATHIC, IS EASY TO PREDICT; (3) PARANOIDS ARE MORE APT THAN SOCIOPATHS TO RESPOND TO WORK OPPORTUNITIES, OFTEN CHAMPION CAUSES AND ARE PREOCCUPIED WITH JUSTICE, AND ARE LIKELY TO BE POOR OR MINORITIES; SOCIOPATHS ARE SELF-INTERESTED LONERS MAINLY MIDDLE CLASS. THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS ARE OFFERED FOR TREATING PARANOIDS: (1) THE HEALTHY PARTS OF THE PATIENT'S FUNCTIONING SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED; (2) THERAPY PROGRESS REQUIRES A NONTHREATENING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PATIENT AND THERAPIST, WHICH WILL OWE MUCH TO THE THERAPIST'S PREDICTABILITY AND CONSISTENCY; (3) THE TREATMENT RELATIONSHIPS SHOULD DEVELOP SLOWLY TO DISARM PATIENTS' SUSPICIONS, PERMIT THEM TO RELEASE THEIR ANGER WITHOUT REJECTION, AND GET THEM TO QUESTION ASSUMPTIONS THEY LIVE BY. THE THERAPIST CAN ELIMINATE THE PATIENT'S SPLITTING, OR UNREALISTICALLY DIVIDING THE WORLD INTO TOTALLY GOOD AND BAD GROUPS, BY PRESENTING HIMSELF AS A MEMBER OF BOTH GROUPS AFTER TRUST HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. HYPNOSIS IS ALSO AN EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC TOOL, AS IT HELPS PARANOIDS GET AROUND MISTRUST OF THERAPISTS AND CAN UNITE DISASSOCIATED PARTS OF THE PARANOID PERSONALITY. PARANOIDS ALSO NEED EDUCATION AND WORK OPPORTUNITIES TO ENCOURAGE THEIR LINK WITH REALITY, RECOGNITION AND ACCEPTANCE TO HELP THEIR FEELINGS OF INFERIORITY, AND REASON TO RESPECT THE THERAPIST AS BOTH A HELPER AND FRIEND BEFORE TREATMENT CAN BE FINISHED. INCLUDED ARE CASE STUDIES AND REFERENCES.

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