Behavioral Therapy

Behaviorism originated from the work of an American psychologist John B. Watson. He claimed that psychology wasn 't concerned with the mind or with human consciousness. Rather, psychology would be concerned solely with behaviour. Therefore humans could be studied objectively, just like rats and apes.

There are two events that stand out as foundations for behavioural therapy. The first is the rise of behavioural therapy in the early 1900 's:

J.B Watson critisised the subjectivity and mentalism of the psychology of the time and advocated behaviourism as the basis for the objective study of behaviour Watson 's emphasis on the importance of environmental events, his rejection of covert aspects of the individual, and his claim that all behaviour
It is thought that behaviourism is manipulative. It seeks not merely to understand human behaviour, but to predict and control it. From his theories, Skinner developed the idea of "shaping". By controlling rewards and punishments, you can shape the behaviour of another person.

Another major theorist in behaviour therapy is Hans J. Eysneck. In a paper that he submitted to his University in 1959, he defined behaviour therapy as the application of modern learning theory to the treatment of behavioural and emotional disorders. Eysneck emphasisied the principles and procedures of Pavlov as well as that of learning theorists. In Eysnecks view, behaviour therapy was an applied science, the defining feature of which was that it was testable and falsifiable. A landmark event for behaviour therapy was when in 1963 Eysneck and Rachman established the first journal devoted to behaviour therapy- Behaviour Research and Therapy.

Another force in the behavioural therapy movement was the emergence of publications in 1953 by Skinner. It was his book, Science and Human Behaviour, that he critisised psychodynamic concept and reformulated psychotherapy in behavioural terms. The most important initial clinical application of operant conditioning was with children.

Behaviourism in the Justice
This is seen as a reward for good behaviour and being the first time offence by the offender. In other words, it can be described as being the last chance or punishment will be issued.

Conclusion

Behaviourism states that people can learn to behave in a certain manner. This is evident through out the entire Justice system. Examples of the concept of behaviourism are littered throughout the justice system. They lie in the policing, courts and prison system. It is plain to see that behaviourism is a notion that is very accepted and practiced within our Justice community on a daily basis and although people may disagree, it is what keeps our justice system effective.

Bibliography

Books/ Journals

Williams, Katherine, S, Textbook On Criminology, 4th Edition. Chapter 10.2, Learning Structures. 2001, Blackstone Press, 2001

Corsini, G. Wedding, D. Current Psychotherapies. Chapter 7, Behavior therapy, Pg, 205. F.E Peacock, 2000.

Gleitmam, H. Psychology, 2nd Edition, Norton & Company, U.S.A 1986

Grivas, J. Psychology for the V.C.E Student, Units 1&2. 2nd Edition, Jacaranda press, Melbourne 1996

Burish, T. Behavior therapy, techniques and empirical findings. 3rd Edition. Harcourt Brace, U.S.A,