The therapeutic community construct has been applied to a broad spectrum of extant institutional programs. However, little attention has been devoted to the nature of the therapeutic community as a system or subsystem within an organizational context and its role as an agent of change. Four generic models of a therapeutic community are presented as a basis for the analysis and classification of existing therapeutic communities in relation to the total institution within which they function as well as the extramural community.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
GralnickA.D'EliaF.Role of the patient in the therapeutic community: Patient participation. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 1961, 15, 63–77.
2.
HageJ.AikenM.Program change and organizational properties: A comparative analysis. American Journal of Sociology, 1967, 72, 503–519.
3.
JonesM.The therapeutic community. New York: Basic Books, 1953.
4.
KatzD.KahnR. L.The social psychology of organizations. New York: Wiley, 1966.
5.
KoleC.DanielsR.An operational model for a therapeutic community. International Group Psychotherapy, 1966, 16, 279–290.
6.
LamberdW. G.The therapeutic community and the mental hospital. Manitoba Medical Review, 1960, 40, 438–442.
7.
PrattS.TooleyJ.Contract psychology and the actualizing transactional-field. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 1964, 14, 51–69.
8.
RapaportR.Principles for developing a therapeutic community. In MassermanJ. H. (Ed.), Current psychiatric therapies. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1963. Pp. 244–256.
9.
SchiffS. B.A therapeutic community in an open state hospital. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 1969, 20, 259–268.
10.
WilenskyH.HerzM.Problem areas in the development of a therapeutic community. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 1966, 12, 299–308.
11.
WilmerH.Social psychiatry in action. Springfield, Ill.: Thomas, 1958.
