In this book, the authors present topical research in the study of the psychology of punishment. Topics discussed include the social psychological models of public opinion about punishment and religious beliefs; retributive punishment for sex offenders; drug driving laws and punishment; third party reward and punishment and race, age and punishment in juvenile correctional facilities.
How can otherwise normal, moral persons - as citizens, voters, and jurors - participate in a process that is designed to take the life of another? In DEATH BY DESIGN, research psychologist Craig Haney argues that capital punishment, and particularly the sequence of events that lead to death sentencing itself, is maintained through a complex and elaborate social psychological system that distances and disengages us from the true nature of the task. Relying heavily on his own research and that of other social scientists, Haney suggests that these social psychological forces enable persons to engage in behavior from which many of them otherwise would refrain. However, by facilitating death sentencing in these ways, this inter-related set of social psychological forces also undermines the reliability and authenticity of the process, and compromises the fairness of its outcomes. Because these social psychological forces are systemic in nature - built into the very system of death sentencing itself - Haney concludes by suggesting a number of inter-locking reforms, derived directly from empirical research on capital punishment, that are needed to increase the fairness and reliability of the process. The historic and ongoing public debate over the death penalty takes place not only in courtrooms, but also in classrooms, offices, and living rooms. This timely book offers stimulating insights into capital punishment for professionals and students working in psychology, law, criminology, sociology, and cultural area studies. As capital punishment receives continued attention in the media, it is also a necessary and provocative guide that empowers all readers to come to their own conclusions about the death penalty.
This hard-hitting book challenges current prison practice and points to ways psychologists and policy makers can strive for a more humane justice system.
In this profound and profoundly controversial work, a landmark of 20th-century thought originally published in 1971, B. F. Skinner makes his definitive statement about humankind and society. Insisting that the problems of the world today can be solved only by dealing much more effectively with human behavior, Skinner argues that our traditional concepts of freedom and dignity must be sharply revised. They have played an important historical role in our struggle against many kinds of tyranny, he acknowledges, but they are now responsible for the futile defense of a presumed free and autonomous individual; they are perpetuating our use of punishment and blocking the development of more effective cultural practices. Basing his arguments on the massive results of the experimental analysis of behavior he pioneered, Skinner rejects traditional explanations of behavior in terms of states of mind, feelings, and other mental attributes in favor of explanations to be sought in the interaction between genetic endowment and personal history. He argues that instead of promoting freedom and dignity as personal attributes, we should direct our attention to the physical and social environments in which people live. It is the environment rather than humankind itself that must be changed if the traditional goals of the struggle for freedom and dignity are to be reached. Beyond Freedom and Dignity urges us to reexamine the ideals we have taken for granted and to consider the possibility of a radically behaviorist approach to human problems--one that has appeared to some incompatible with those ideals, but which envisions the building of a world in which humankind can attain its greatest possible achievements.
The Effects of Punishment on Human Behavior is a collection of essays that discusses the procedural and ethical issues of the use of electric shock as a treatment for severe behavior problems. The book presents the different types of extraneous aversives and undesirable side effects of punishment. It demonstrates the effectiveness of punishment procedures. The text describes the various aspects of punishment, as applied to human beings. It discusses the ethical and legal issues that challenge the use of punishment. Another topic of interest is the salient characteristics and influences affecting the success of overcorrection. The section that follows describes the types of punishment. The text also provides a conceptual and methodological analysis of a technique called "timeout. The book will provide valuable insights for psychologists, teachers, students, and researchers in the field of behavioral science.
Lee (U. of Kansas) emphasizes the role of school psychologists as consultants, and one of this encyclopedia's goals is to introduce non-specialists to the scope of psychology applied to education. It can also serve as a reference for practitioners and vocational counselors. For ease of use, the comprehensive contents are listed both alphabetically
Completely revised and updated, this newly illustrated guide helps both licensed and student nurses apply the latest in psychological research and theory to their everyday lives. Sensation, perception, cognitive processes, and developmental psychology are among the topics discussed. A brief history of the field and new information on HIV and AIDS are also included along with a CD-ROM containing PowerPoint slides for each chapter.
