Understanding change in a therapeutic community: An action systems approach

Abstract

This study aims to provide a framework for assessing and modelling behavioural changes in a prison therapeutic community. A behavioural checklist able to monitor both positive and negative behaviours throughout the course of therapy, paying particular attention to offence-paralleling behaviours, was devised. Content analysis of therapy notes on n=68 residents identified 35 variables. The study investigated the hypothesis that it is possible to model behavioural change over the course of therapy using an action systems framework. This framework has been used to classify different forms of anti-social behaviour (Fritzon & Brun, 2005; Miller & Fritzon, in press) and pro-social behaviour (Shye, 1985). The four modes of action system functioning were consistently identified during therapy using Smallest Space Analysis. Paired sample t-tests of residents at the beginning and end periods of therapy suggested that residents progress from the antisocial to prosocial behaviours from within each mode. Overall, findings support the prison therapeutic community treatment model, as well as demonstrating the appropriateness of the action systems framework for understanding the nature and function of positive and negative therapeutic behaviours.

A Review of the Use of Therapeutic Communities With Sexual Offenders

“…Research has demonstrated post-treatment improvements in self-reported positive change (Miller, Sees & Brown., 2006); personality change (e.g., decreased levels of hostility, neuroticism, and psychoticism) (Newton, 1998); increased employment and reductions in drug use (Messina, Wish & Nemes, 2000); decreased custodial disciplinary charges within and post TC (Cooke, 1989;Hodkin & Woodward, 1996); and reduced adherence to conventional prisoner attitudes (Genders & Player, 1995). Neville, Miller, and Fritzon (2007) conducted an interesting study involving the development and use of a check-list to evaluate behavioral change in 30 TC based offenders. A number of outcomes were reported including an increase in offenders' engagement in 'functional' behaviors, such as asking others for advice and being supportive of one another, and a decrease in dysfunctional behaviors, such as becoming angry or disruptive and being "anti-staff".…”

Conceptions and Perceptions of Psychotherapy in the Eyes of Therapists and their Patients: Longitudinal Analysis by the Faceted Action System Theory (FAST)

“…4 For similar applications of the action system theory to psychotherapy, see Neville et al (2007) study on prison therapeutic community. 5 Cf.…”

A Structured Cognitive Behavioural Approach to the Assessment and Treatment of Violent Offenders Using Offence Paralleling Behaviour

“…This model is largely the one proposed by McDougall and colleagues (1994). Similarly, Neville et al (2007) have developed a behavioural checklist containing 35 'single-event' variables that purportedly assists monitoring of both 'positive' and 'negative' behaviours throughout the course of therapy, paying particular attention to OPBs using content analysis of therapy notes.…”

“…Behaviour at the time of the offence is identified as being topographically similar to current behaviour simply because it has the same form or appearance as behaviour at the time of the offence. Checklist-based approaches such as McDougall and Clark's (McDougall & Clark, 1991) and Neville's (Neville et al, 2007) are topologically oriented and do not attempt to identify linkages based on function of behaviour or some other underlying psychological cause.…”