RE: What Does Justice Look Like?
I think you managed to sum up a whole lot in a very short space of time @mattifer. I'm not overly sure what the prisons are like in Australia in regard to their rehabilitation programs. The cynical part of me wants to agree with you and say that they are probably quite similar to the ones in the US. They do look quite good on paper, well, screen - the ones I looked over while doing some research for this did look really good, however, how they work in reality, I'm unsure.
I think originally, I was using the terms punishment and consequence interchangeably, but in hindsight, you're right, they're not necessarily the same thing, are they. Off the top of my head, I would say a punishment is pretty much a consequence but without the explanation - punishments would probably tend to be more brutal in nature as well. Or would that just be a perception? Does something seem excessive when you don't understand why you're being forced to do it? Anyway... I would be quite interested to see, as you said, if there have been any studies done on punishment vs consequence in adults. There would have to be benefits in teaching better behaviour in all ages.
Thanks heaps for reading, and for your engaging reply.
I think the intention is also quite different. A punishment is designed to inflict pain, cause suffering, or otherwise distress the person being punished. A consequence is a more logical outcome of a specific behavior. Every action has a consequence - the law should focus on making the consequence to inappropriate behavior fit the crime that was committed. Instead, we basically ground people for a while.
Go to your room! And STAY there!
I don't recall that being an effective deterrent for my behavior as a child, although I'm sure it works for some. As a teacher, I always found that when I asked the students to discuss their behaviors and help determine appropriate consequences, the students always came up with a more fitting AND more rigorous consequence than I would have administered. And because they were party to determining the outcome of their action, it helped reinforce that they themselves are responsible for their behaviors, rather than leaving it up to an outside force to "police" them.
I understand that this is likely not feasible in the adult world in quite the same way, but I know our prisons could certainly learn a thing or two from the model.
Such a true observation. I've had similar experiences when conducting my classroom behaviour management the same. Isn't it funny/interesting, just how much we actually crave boundaries. They are, after all, what make us feel safe. I'm unsure how this, or a variant of it, would work with a hardened criminal. Would they take ownership of their behaviour, or blame it on the guy down the street? Again, it would make for an interesting study.
It doesn't seem to work that way with my brother.... not that he's a hardened criminal, but he is quite unable to take responsibility for his behavior, even when confronted with the consequences of his actions. He's a master at blaming his actions on someone else.
I broke a window with my fist? Oh, you made me do it because you were on the other side of the window. How else could I punch you in the face?
Yeah, so maybe it wouldn't work on the streets.... ;-)