Seel Christopher J, May Richard J, Austin Jennifer L
School of Psychology and Therapeutic Studies, University of South Wales, Cardiff, UK.
College of Education and Human Development, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA USA.
Behav Anal Pract. 2023 Sep 7;17(3):679-692. doi: 10.1007/s40617-023-00851-8. eCollection 2024 Sep.
Criminologists have long claimed that states of deprivation engendered by restrictive prison environments account for much of the problematic behavior that occurs there. It is logical to assume that any efforts to provide greater access to meaningful and appropriate activities may therefore serve to reduce such behavior by altering motivating operations for misconduct and occasioning reinforcement for other types of behaviors. Given the higher rates of trauma exposure and other mental health issues in prison populations, considering trauma-informed practices in intervention design is prudent. The current study evaluated the effects of environmental enrichment via prisoner-selected, peer-led activities conducted during association times. We used direct observation to assess engagement, existing facility data collection to detect changes in problematic behavior, and prisoner and staff surveys to assess perceptions of the overall acceptability and effects of the intervention. Prisoners engaged with and led a range of activities, with the majority reporting positive effects on behavior, social relationships, and general well-being; staff responses were generally positive but more tempered. Institutional behavior records did not appear sensitive enough to detect treatment effects. We discuss the results in terms of integrating trauma-informed care into prison interventions and the need to develop more robust measures of behavior change.
长期以来，犯罪学家一直认为，限制性监狱环境所导致的剥夺状态是监狱中出现的许多问题行为的根源。因此，可以合理地假设，任何旨在增加有意义和适当活动机会的努力，都可能通过改变不当行为的动机操作并为其他类型的行为提供强化，从而减少此类行为。鉴于监狱人群中创伤暴露和其他心理健康问题的发生率较高，在干预设计中考虑采用创伤知情做法是明智的。本研究评估了在社交时间通过囚犯选择、同伴主导的活动进行环境丰富化的效果。我们通过直接观察来评估参与度，利用现有设施数据收集来检测问题行为的变化，并通过囚犯和工作人员调查来评估对干预措施总体可接受性和效果的看法。囚犯参与并主导了一系列活动，大多数人报告称这些活动对行为、社会关系和总体幸福感产生了积极影响；工作人员的反应总体上是积极的，但较为温和。机构行为记录似乎不够敏感，无法检测到治疗效果。我们从将创伤知情护理纳入监狱干预措施以及开发更有力的行为改变衡量方法的必要性方面讨论了研究结果。
