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

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Forensic Psychology (PSY - 513)

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.

Forensic Psychology (PSY - 513)

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

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