The expanding Fist: A Behavioral Approach to Riot Prevention and Rehabilitation

Abstract

Prison riots tend to occur when a strict, security-minded administration is replaced by a warden interested in rehabilitation. The change, itself, creates insecurity and anxiety in the inmates and induces them to test the limits of the new warden. This article proposes a way, based on psychodynamic understanding, for helping an institution to make the transition successfully using behavior therapy techniques. The same procedures consistently applied can then become a major approach in treatment of offenders. Current resistance to behavior modification methods are analyzed.