Meditation as a tool for the rehabilitation of prisoners

Prisoners of our own mind: powerful effects of meditation as a tool of rehabilitation

Abstraction

The ability to effectively deal with anxiety and negative emotions can lead to various physical and psychological problems. The main purpose of this article was to study the effects of Vipassana meditation (VM) and meditation (TM) on the psychological health and rehabilitation of prisoners. The most common physiological and psychological effects of meditation are: reduced heart rate, decreased blood pressure, decreased breathing, decreased metabolism, increased mental activity, improved cognitive and emotional performance, improved well-being, reduced pain and stress, decreased anxiety, reduced depression, and changed EEG models. Some of the previous findings increased the plasticity of the brain and its adaptive ability to stressful situations. With the achievement of increased awareness and improved ability to cope with meditation, prisoners have a means of self-help to maintain good mental health. In addition, with regular meditation practice, prisoners cope better with their anger and frustration, and the level of violence, as well as recidivism, can be reduced.

Positive psychology, a new trend in the field of psychology, was first put forward by Martin Seligman in 1998. The goal was to challenge current forms of therapy to the negative aspects of the human condition and to rethink the positive characteristics of human nature that contribute to greater well-being. Positive psychology claims that people possess a wide range of psychological strengths and qualities that are necessary to solve problems that arise in life. According to Seligman, before World War I, psychology had three goals: to cure mental illness, make life productive and more fulfilling, and identify and develop high talent (Seligman, 2005). The latter two of these goals were apparently forgotten as psychology moved to focus on treating the mental illnesses of veterans and injured citizens. Today, the region is shifting back to focus on preventing mental illness and improving the quality of life.

The main goal of positive psychology is to help patients, and in this particular case, prisoners to develop their strengths in order to lead a more fulfilling life and better cope with stress and aggression. Specific coping methods are special coping mechanisms designed to help people cope better and overcome the difficulties of life. Of these coping mechanisms, there is an increasing interest in the use of Asian methods of meditation as a method of rehabilitation for the prison population.

The goal of meditation is to understand our true nature and free ourselves from the illusion that causes our suffering. In terms of psychological growth, it is important that people be able to free themselves from imaginary boundaries that limit their world view and consciousness. Understanding the true fleeting nature of emotions and sensations, a person learns not to feel attachment to physical or psychological pain and to let go. Regular practice of meditation exercises is one about the inconstancy of mental and physical states, helping a person not to react emotionally and experience more detachment. As a result, meditation causes a state of deep relaxation, inner harmony and heightened consciousness. A variety of methods can be used during meditation, but they all involve concentrating on a particular object or activity and eliminating all forms of internal or external distractions.

The first type of meditation presented in this article is Vipassana meditation (VM). The sources of awareness go back to the teachings of Siddharth Gautama (563 BC. E. - 483 BC. E.), the Buddha. The Buddha emphasized the concept of mindfulness of speech, thought, and action in order to find relief from suffering and ignorance. To be attentive is to be fully aware of the present moment. The doctrine of mindfulness or “discernment” of meditation focuses on deep, penetrating nonconceptual vision in the nature of mind and the world and the continuity of awareness in all daily activities. Vipassana meditation is called discovery meditation, where you need to keep track of all internal and external stimuli that are not related to judgment. This type of meditation requires the ability to focus and be open. Analyzing thoughts and cognitions, V. M. focuses on a deeper understanding thanks to the systematic cultivation of inquiries and insight. Like cognitive behavioral therapy, VM involves the use of introspection or insight, where knowledge can be observed without judgment and a better understanding. Here the path to better physical and psychological health leads to a better understanding of the reactions to all emotions. The main cause of human suffering is related to how we interpret the world around us. By understanding and changing our knowledge, we can lead a more fulfilling life and experience an increase in well-being.

Relaxation is a bi-product of this type of meditation, but this is not the goal of this process. Vipassana meditation is taught during intense 10-day trips, where you need to remain silent throughout the retreat and meditate all day. The schedule is very strict, and meditators should begin daily sittings before sunrise, rather than eat after noon, refrain from any toxicants, from killing, from sexual activity, from lying, singing, dancing and talking. In addition, in order to pay attention to everything; eye contact with other participants should be avoided, as well as reading, watching television, listening to the radio and doing strenuous exercise.

The second type of meditation to learn is X Meditation (TM). TM is based on the philosophy of Indian vedanta and is practiced at least 20 minutes twice a day, sitting with eyes closed. The technique combines silent mental repetition of the mantra, which is a word or phrase used as a focus for attention. The purpose of this mediation is to achieve pure consciousness: Samadhi. This method became very popular in the early 1970s, and scientists soon began to study the therapeutic effects of meditation.

In the United States, although sentencing is harsh, recidivism rates are alarming, and many offenders cannot be restructured. In order to improve the system with imperfections, some objects viewed rehabilitation as a viable alternative to punishment and opened their doors to facilitation, but non-standard interventions, such as meditation.

Since 1997, Vipassana meditation courses have been held in correctional facilities in North America, and researchers have demonstrated that this technique has a beneficial effect on lower rates of recidivism and improves prisoner behavior and coping skills. By nature, the practice of Vipassana leads to a systematic process of self-observation, which raises awareness, self-control and internal balance, thereby helping prisoners make smarter decisions.

According to the North American project of the Vipassana Prison, to this day only three studies have been conducted on the effects of Vipassana meditation courses on prisoners in North America.

In 2002, a study conducted at the Northern Rehabilitation Center (Silt, Washington) showed that prisoners participating in VM courses were 20% less likely to return to prison than the general population that did not complete the course. In addition, Parks and Marlatt (2006) evaluated the impact of VM courses on substance use, recidivism, and psychological outcomes for imprisoned people. According to the authors, previous results in India suggested that VM courses correlate with a reduced level of recidivism, depression, anxiety, hostility, and increased cooperation with prison authorities. The first Vipassana courses offered at the North American Correctional Facility were conducted at the North Rehabilitation Hospital (NRF), a minimum-security prison in Seattle, WA, with male and female prisoners. During the 15-month period, five person courses and four female courses were evaluated. The study participants completed the basic activities 1 week before the start of the course and the assessment after the course within 1 week after the end of the course. Subsequent evaluations were performed at 3 and 6 months after exiting the NRF. The total number of participants who volunteered for the Vipassana course was 79.2% of men and 20.8% of women aged 19 to 58 years. The results showed a significant correlation between participation in the VM course and the use of drugs after imprisonment, as well as improvement in psychosocial functioning. Thus, participants reported lower levels of psychiatric symptoms, more internal alcohol-related loci of control, and higher levels of optimism.

Unfortunately, very little research has been done on the implications of WM courses in prisons. The preliminary results are very encouraging, but there is not much room for alternative rehabilitation methods. In addition, unlike X Meditation (TM), VM courses are very demanding and require strong adherence. Sitting for 10 days in absolute silence and meditating for 10 or more hours every day is very difficult. In addition, one of the possible reasons for the lack of research is apparently the lack of funding. Vipassana courses, as taught by S. N. Goenka, are completely free. Participants are encouraged to make a donation only if they complete the course and no promises are accepted by people who have not completed the retreat. In addition, unlike TM teachers, Vipassana teachers around the world work as volunteers and do not receive rewards. Thus, the money that is donated helps support or open new retreat centers, but does not fund research.

Unlike VM, X Meditation (TM) has done a lot of research in many different areas. TM became famous in the 1960s when the Beatles introduced Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to the West. Since then, many payment courses are held all over the world, and a university has been created. Thus, most of the research on TM was conducted and sponsored by the Maharishi University.

The ration for using TM as a means of rehabilitating prisoners includes a notice that people at different stages of self-development are at greater or lesser risk of committing crimes. Alexander, Walton and Goodman (2003) simplified the stages of ego development during the three main phases: preliminary, ordinary and post-conventional. Each level contains several other developmental stages, which vary depending on the size of the impulse control, conscious problems and interpersonal and cognitive styles. Thus, people with lower levels of development are more likely to participate in basic coping mechanisms, such as impulsive or egocentric. In addition, people who demonstrate a needs-based system tend to experience intense interpersonal relationships and have little knowledge of internal states. Therefore, such people may not know or experience difficulties in complying with conventions, rules or laws of society and may be involved in criminal behavior. The next level is the usual level in which a person can be called conformist, self-aware and conscientious. This level is usually achieved by late adolescence. Finally, the last level is the post-conventional level, which is the most mature type of functioning within Loevinger. People at this level have the ability to self-actualize, are autonomous, experience internal satisfaction, strong moral values ​​and respect for others, demonstrate flexibility in adapting to requirements and cope with external or internal conflicts. Proponents of the TM method refer to previous studies that indicate that TM programs promote self-development and self-actualization, thereby suggesting the continuation of the practice of this kind of mediation during the self-development stage in adulthood. Therefore, by introducing TM programs as a means of rehabilitation, self-development can be accelerated among prisoners, thereby providing them with equipment that contributes to a greater ability to function in a way acceptable to society.

In their study, Alexander, Walton, and Goodman (2003) discuss the use of TM as a means of rehabilitating repeat offenders. According to their research, the practice of TM reduces many factors, such as anxiety, aggression, drug addiction and other psychological, as well as physiological factors associated with the likelihood of a crime. Therefore, they suggest that the systematic operation of this type of meditation contributes to the experience of transcendental consciousness, which, in turn, reduces the imbalances caused by stress, including hypertension, psychopathology, and addiction to behavior. The purpose of their research was to demonstrate that the practice of TM prisoners inmates will lead to more rapid self-development, an increase in the experience of basic states of consciousness, which are said to be higher than walking, sleeping and dreaming, as well as a decrease in psychopathological conditions that, compared with the control groups, prisoners practicing the TM program will demonstrate a deterioration in psychopathology, as evidenced by a survey of psychoticism, hostility, aggression, depression, and synopathy; they would demonstrate enhanced personality development, especially in the form indicated by measures of ego- or self-development, moral reasoning, and cognitive development; and, finally, they will show increased reports of higher states of consciousness, as evidenced by assessments of the state of the inventory of the state of consciousness. The subjects were 160 adult male prisoners from the Massachusetts Correctional Institute (MCI), Walpole: an institution with maximum safety. The results showed that prisoners who practiced the TM program for 20 months improved performance compared with the control group. High differences were found in the assessments of development, consciousness, and psychopathology. Thus, the results confirmed the hypothesis that prisoners practicing TM would demonstrate a decrease in the level of psychopathology, an increase in self-development and an increase in the experience of higher states of consciousness.

In the second part of the Walpole study, Alexander and Orme-Johnson (Alexander and Orme-Johnson, 2003) studied longitudinal changes in self-development and psychopathology for 15.7 months from 271 prisoners with maximum safety. For this study, four groups were compared: prisoners participating in the TM program, counseling, drug rehabilitation, or Muslim or Christian groups. The results showed that only regular participants of the TM program have changed significantly, moving from the conformist level of Loevinger, which is characterized by exploitative orientation, to the level of Self Aware, which is characterized by greater awareness of norms and goals. In addition, TM participants demonstrated a significant decrease in aggressiveness, schizophrenic symptoms, decrease in anxiety, and an increase in the frequency of post-conceptual experience of higher states of consciousness. Thus, the results of the longitudinal observation confirmed the results of the cross section, showing that the practice of TM increases self-development.

In the third part of the Walpole study, Alexander, Reinfort, Frank, Grant, Von Stade and Walton (2003) conducted a retrospective study of recidivism among the 286 prisoners released from Walpole prison, following them for 59 months. The results showed that only 32% of prisoners practicing TM equipment returned to prison for up to 30 days or more compared to 48% of prisoners who participated in other prison programs. Thus, the practice of TM correlated with a statistically significant decrease in recidivism by 33%. Again, these findings are consistent with the assumption that regular TM practices will lead to a decrease in psychopathology, accelerated psychological development, and a decrease in criminal behavior.

In another study, Rainforth, Alexander and Cavanaugh (2003) studied recidivism rates for a 15-year period among prisoners enrolled in the TM method who were released from a high-security prison in California. С 1975 по 1982 год в программе ТМ участвовало 153 заключенных в тюрьме Фолсом. К 1982 году все они были уволены. Исследователи сопоставляли каждого участника ТМ с субъектом без медитации из записей тюрьмы Фолсом, контролируя такие переменные, как год условно-досрочного освобождения, расы, правонарушения, предварительный отчет о приверженности, возраст, история злоупотребления наркотиками, этническая принадлежность, семейное положение, уровень образования, IQ, история занятости, военная служба, возраст первого ареста и первое обязательство, возраст условно-досрочного освобождения, месяцы и нарушения правил до вступления в исследование. Результаты были статистически значимыми и показали, что у группы ТМ показатель рецидивизма составил 46,7% в течение последующего периода по сравнению с 66,7% для контролей. Кроме того, результаты также показали, что программа ТМ продемонстрировала повторяющиеся эффекты реабилитации.

В своем экспериментальном исследовании Орме-Джонсон и Мур (2003) исследовали физиологические и психологические эффекты ТМ у 17 заключенных, которые практиковали этот метод в течение двух месяцев. Участниками были заключенные из тюрьмы федерального тюрьмы Ла-Туна близ Эль-Пасо, штат Техас, которые были заключены в тюрьму за преступления, связанные с наркотиками. Результаты показали повышенную устойчивость автономной нервной системы, о чем свидетельствует меньшее количество спонтанных ответов на резистентность к коже (SSRR). Кроме того, снижение жесткости, навязчивых мыслей и компульсивное поведение наблюдалось на инвентаре многофазных персонажей в Миннесоте (MMPI): снижение уровня психиатрии и социальной интроверсии. Также было отмечено, что регулярность практики достоверно коррелирует с процентным снижением SSRR, что, в свою очередь, коррелирует со снижением уровня Psychasthenia. Как отмечают авторы, предыдущие исследования показали электродермальную гипореактивность субъектов с антисоциальным поведением. Таким образом, психопатические, делинквентные, гиперактивные и агрессивные индивидуумы демонстрируют более низкие тонизирующие уровни проводимости кожи, более низкие амплитудные автономные реакции на стимуляцию, более медленное восстановление реакции резистентности кожи и меньшее количество SSRR. В свете таких физиологических реакций авторы обсуждают предыдущие исследования, свидетельствующие о том, что антиобщественные люди страдают от нечувствительной вегетативной нервной системы, а затем проявляют слабое отсутствие или преступное торможение. В то время как психопатические заключенные демонстрируют медленное электродермальное восстановление после стимуляции или отсутствие электродермальных и сердечных реакций, у субъектов ТМ наблюдалось более быстрое выздоровление и большая амплитуда электродермальных и сердечных реакций. Поэтому, Orme-Johnson and Moore (2003) полагают, что этот тип медитации увеличивает реактивность чувств, спонтанность, способность к теплым межличностным отношениям, эмоциональную зрелость, интегрированную перспективу на себе и в мире и устойчивое чувство собственного достоинства. Такие изменения личности связаны с позитивными поведенческими изменениями, включая снижение рецидивизма и улучшение реабилитации населения заключенных.

Основываясь на своем обзоре литературы по ТМ, Хокинс (2003) также отмечает, что заключенные преступники демонстрируют быстрые позитивные изменения факторов риска, связанных с преступным поведением. Здесь, при регулярной практике ТМ, значительно улучшаются такие факторы, как беспокойство, агрессия, враждебность, моральное суждение, нарушения правил в тюрьмах и злоупотребление психоактивными веществами. Кроме того, отмечается, что программа ТМ значительно помогает уменьшить употребление психоактивных веществ, а также основные факторы, которые вызывают зависимость от психоактивных веществ, такие как тревога, депрессия, невротизм и другие формы психологического стресса. В качестве целостного подхода ТМ затрагивает как психологические, так и физические проблемы. Таким образом, может быть достигнуто психологическое здоровье, а также автоматическое функционирование и нейроэндокринный баланс. В результате практика ТМ не только улучшает текущий статус заключенных, но также обеспечивает долгосрочные результаты, такие как более низкие показатели рецидивизма для практикующих врачей и более низкие показатели рецидива для наркоманов.

В обзоре вышеизложенных исследований влияния X Медитации и медитации Випассаны на заключенных заключенных, похоже, аналогичные результаты могут быть получены с практикой любой формы медитации.

В отличие от программы ТМ, которая связана с повторением данной мантры, программа VM имеет некоторое сходство с когнитивной терапией. Когнитивная терапия предполагает признание бесполезных моделей мышления и изменение или замену этих моделей более реалистичными или полезными. Однако, с помощью медитации Випассаны, акцент делается на признании мыслей и их непостоянства и обучении отпустить, не идентифицируя их.

Возможно, программа Випассаны вызвала меньше исследований в области судебной психологии из-за напряженных условий, необходимых для завершения курса. Таким образом, если они не имеют высокой мотивированности, заключенные могут проявлять большую трудность, участвуя в такой программе, чем с программой ТМ, что требует только двух коротких 20-минутных сеансов в день.

Наконец, по данным текущих исследований, проведенных в нескольких тюрьмах с максимальной безопасностью, включая Folsom и San Quentin в Калифорнии, и Walpole в Массачусетсе, Magill (2003) сообщает, что на 56% меньше заключенных признаны виновными в новых преступлениях после завершения программы ТМ , Такие результаты подчеркивают, насколько выгодны внедрение медитационных программ в исправительных учреждениях. Таким образом, медитация не только улучшает физическое и психологическое поведение заключенных и уменьшает рецидивизм, но и экономически эффективный способ лечения.

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