Evidence for the Adoption of a Learning Theory Approach to Criminal Deterrence: A Preliminary Study
It is a long-held belief that inflicting punishment on criminals will reduce fiiture rates of crime in society. In line with this belief, the current administration in the United States has introduced punishment policies with the aim to “get tough” on violent and drug-related crime. In contrast to this belief in the effectiveness of punishment on crime, many researchers have found that punished offenders evidence similar or higher rates of recidivism than non-punished offenders (DiChiara & Galliher, 1984; Gibbs, 1975; Tittle & Logan, 1973; Zimring and Hawkins, 1973). Previous research studies concerning this topic have been designed solely to test the theory of specific deterrence. It is our contention that methodological and theoretical problems with these previous studies may have impeded their ability to assess the deterrent effect of punishment. We suggest that learning theory provides an alternative theoretical basis for the study of criminal deterrence. The availability of a large-scale, population-based longitudinal data set provides us with the ability to test principles of learning theory as they relate to criminal deterrence, and also to overcome the methodological pitfalls in this area of research.
Is Effective Treatment of Psychopathy Possible
Psychopaths represent a major challenge for the criminal justice system in democratic societies. With such persons, it is particularly difficult to find a balance between the aims of just punishment, the safety of society, and rehabilitation. Whereas the first two aims are widely accepted for offenders with psychopathic personality, there is much skepticism regarding rehabilitation or treatment. Successful therapeutic modification of human behavior requires an emotional bond between the therapist and the client, cooperation, openness, expressiveness, reciprocal affirmation, and an adequate duration of treatment (Orlinsky, Grawe, & Parks, 1994). However, it is exactly these criteria that psychopaths do not fulfill (Cleckley, 1976; Hare, 1993). Their grandiose sense of self-worth and lack of remorse act against any real motivation to change. Pathological lying disrupts honest communications within therapy. Shallow affect as well as callousness and lack of empathy impede serious work on emotions in social.relationships. Glibness and manipulative behavior lead to superficial role play and deception instead of true cooperation. As a consequence, psychosocial interventions are often broken off or have no effect (Blackburn, 1993;Hare, 1995;Losel, 1998).
Punishment Inhibits an Instrumental Response in Hooded Rats
Punishment led to the cessation of a food-rewarded bar-pressing response in hooded rats deprived of food for 23 hours. The response remained inhibited for 2 weeks, and only one of four rats resumed responding when food deprivation was increased to 47 and 71 hours.