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BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL MODEL:Mental hospitals are factories of abuse

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Forensic Psychology (PSY - 513)
VU
Lesson 18
BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL MODEL
Objective:
To understand the basic ideas of bio-psycho-social model
To understand the concept of proportionate punishment
Bio-psycho-social model emphasized the underlying biological tendencies along with the
importance of psychological and environmental factors. This model believes that biological
predisposition, environmental/cultural factors and psychological elements, all play equally
important role for making a person criminal.
The biopsychosocial model posits that biological, psychological and social factors all play a
significant role in human functioning, including in mental processes. The model is used in fields
such as criminal psychology, medicine, and sociology, and in more specialist fields such as
psychiatry and clinical psychology. In medicine, it is a way of looking at the mind and body of an
indvidual as two important systems that are
interlinked. The biopsychosocial model is also
a technical term for the popular concept of the
mind-body connection. They do not ignore the
importance of studies like both twin and
adoption studies have clearly shown that there
is a genetic basis to antisocial, aggressive, and
violent behavior (Mednick et al., 1984)
Biopsychosocial model talks about some
youth with early onset behavioral problems,
genetic
factors
strongly
influence
temperamental  predisposition,  particularly
oppositional temperament, which can affect
experiences  negatively.  When  antisocial
behavior  occurs  later  in  childhood  or
adolescence, it is suspected that genetic factors
contribute less, and such youths tend to
engage in delinquent behavior primarily because
of peer influences and lapses in parenting.  Bio-psycho-social factors are mingled like rainbow
Although there is research that supports the sole responsibilities of both genetics/biological and
environmental factors of aggression and criminal behavior, research still points toward a more
integrated view on this topic.
This model is quite optimistic and believes in treatment and not in punishment and suggests that all
criminal should be treated in mental hospitals instead of locking in jails.
Jails are factories of criminals
The core concern of this model is to challenge the conventional wisdom that increasing the prison
population is an effective way to reduce crime. And he should know. New criminals are imprisoned
with hardened criminals and offenders, the abnormal environment of jail does not reform the
criminal rather make them a habitual criminal and ultimately increasing the crime rate.
Limits of this model
This model advocated that all offenders should be treated in mental hospitals instead of punishing in
prisons. And if we analyze it seriously, it means sending all offenders into mental hospitals instead
of locking in prisons.
69
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Forensic Psychology (PSY - 513)
VU
Initially I am saying although this model makes sense but its implications should be taken like a
pinch of salt.
Mental hospitals are factories of abuse
If we follow the bio-psycho-social model it means that we would lock the all criminals in asylums.
The environment of mental hospital is not better than any jail. So, what will be the result, we will
make them a subject to torturous and inhuman treatment and environment. So applying the idea of
"no punishment only treatment" can too dangerous for society like one hand:
1. By removing punishment can encourage people to commit crime
2. On other hand, on the name of treatment, people can be subjected to very negative
experience of sublimation, suppression and inhuman treatment.
So the better idea is to apply the idea of proportionate punishment
Proportionate jails
I think this idea is good in principle, aiming at keeping people on the "straight and narrow"
While this is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, would a few hours a day in jail really act as a
deterrent, or a punishment for that matter. Surely we should be looking to deal custodial sentences to
repeat offenders and perhaps very long ones if this fails to solve the problem. The basic rationale of
proportionate punishment is
Punish them who have committed a crime
Treat them who are mentally ill
Repeated offenders should be kept in separate jails from other criminals
The concepts of Day jails are being successfully applied in many western countries, where those people
are kept; who have disobeyed the legal system (like fast driving) but have not committed any serious
kind of criminal act. At the end we need to use our mind with the reference of our own society and
situation. Probably the most striking evidence for this proposition is the recent experience of New York
City, which during the 1990s and into the 2000s registered huge reductions in recorded crime whilst
substantially decreasing its use of prison. The number of people New York City annually sends to
prison has fallen from around 20,000 in the early 1990s to 8,000 today.
Basic concepts of bio-psycho-social model
Accepts the genetic predisposition argument
But stresses the role of psychological factors such as parenting, attachment etc
Social variables such as cultural factors are also emphasized
More optimistic, believes in treatment for offenders and not punishment
70
Table of Contents:
  1. INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY:Future of Forensic Psychology
  2. INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC PSYCHOOGY:Way of police investigation
  3. FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY AND POLICE:Violent Criminals
  4. POLICE PSYCHOLOGY:Use of excessive force, Corruption, Personnel Selection
  5. POLICE PSYCHOLOGY:Fitness-for-Duty Evaluation (FFDE), False Confessions
  6. INVESTIGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY:For instance, Empirical and logical approach
  7. INVESTIGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY:Crime Scene Investigation, Staging
  8. PSYCHOLOGY OF VIOLENCE:Law of Conservation of Energy, Super ego
  9. PSYCHOANALYTIC MODEL AND VIOLENCE:Fixation at Oral Stage
  10. PSYCHOANALYTIC MODEL AND VIOLENCE:Defense Mechanism, Rationalization
  11. JUNGIAN PSYCHOLOGY AND VIOLENCE:Freudian Methods, JUNGIAN PSYCHOLOGY
  12. JUNGIAN PSYCHOLOGY AND VIOLENCE:Religion and mental illnesses
  13. BEHAVIORIST PERSPECTIVE AND VIOLENCE:Shadow’s violence, Child’s violence
  14. BEHAVIORIST PERSPECTIVE AND VIOLENCE:Operant Conditioning
  15. BEHAVIORIST PERSPECTIVE AND VIOLENCE:Schedules of Punishment
  16. SOCIAL LEARNING MODEL AND VIOLENCE:Observational learning, Vicarious punishment
  17. MORAL DEVELOPMENT AND VIOLENCE:Symbolic functioning, Formal operational stage
  18. BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL MODEL:Mental hospitals are factories of abuse
  19. ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE ABOUT VIOLENCE:Morality is essential
  20. ISLAMIC MODEL:Nafs al-Ammara, Nafs al-Lawwama, Nafs ul Naatiqa
  21. TREATMENTS FOR THE SOUL:Tawba, Sabr o Shukr, Niyyat o Ikhlaas, Taffakkur
  22. CRIMINOGENIC PERSONALITY:Personality Disorders, Common Crimes
  23. CRIMINOGENIC PERSONALITY AND VIOLENCE:Mnemonic, Similarities
  24. CRIMINOGENIC PERSONALITY AND VIOLENCE:Terrorism and Psychopaths
  25. LEARNING DISABILITIES/MENTAL RETARDATION AND VIOLENCE
  26. ASSESSMENT OF PERSONALITY DISORDERS:Reasons for referral, Personality Inventories
  27. ASSESSMENT OF PERSONALITY DISORDERS:Different cutoff scores
  28. RISK ASSESSMENT:Violence reduction scale, Stability of Family upbringing
  29. TREATMENT OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR / PERSONALITY PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHOTHERAPY
  30. JUNGINA THERAPEUTIC MODEL:Limits of re-parenting, Personality Typologies
  31. GROUP THERAPY FOR OFFENDERS:Learning in Groups, Humanistic Groups
  32. PSYCHOTHERAPIES IN FORENSIC SETTINGS:Narrative Therapy
  33. PSYCHOTHERAPIES IN FORENSIC SETTINGS:Solution Focused Therapy
  34. PSYCHOTHERAPIES IN FORENSIC SETTINGS:Avoiding reactance, Externalization
  35. PSYCHOTHERAPY IN FORENSIC SETTINGS AND SPECIAL CHALLENGES
  36. FORENSIC PSYCHOTHERAPY:Exploring therapeutic alliance, Music Therapy
  37. VIOLENCE REDUCTION PROGRAM:Target Population, Lack of motivation
  38. VIOLENCE REDUCTION PROGRAM:Criminal attitude, Interpersonal Aggression
  39. VICTIM SUPPORT:Main features of PTSD, Emotional Support
  40. VICTIM SUPPORT:Debriefing, Desensitization, Eidetic Therapy, Narrative Therapy
  41. SUBSTANCE MISUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM:Marijuana, Unconventional drugs
  42. SUBSTANCE MISUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM:Stages of Change, Homosexuality
  43. EXPERT WITNESS:Insanity Pleas, Sexual Offence Risk, Instructions
  44. COUNTER TERRORISM:Misconceptions, Psychologists & Propaganda war
  45. SUMMING UP FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY:Problems with Risk Assessment, Expert Witness