55-5 What Drug Offenders Learn in the Savoring Group Program

Hsaio-Feng Cheng Hsiu-Ching Chen
National Taiwan University of Arts Agency of Corrections, Ministry of Justice


 
Drug-related crimes and drug addiction are global issues. Assisting drug offenders in how to enrich multiple positive emotions, enhance a better control in life, to reduce the recurrence of drug addiction in order to seek pleasure during their sentences, and to maintain a relatively stable psychological and cognitive status were the main concerns of the present study. The purpose of this research was to understand the savoring concepts, perceived control and savoring strategies that drug offenders learn in the savoring group program. The program was designed to enhance the positive emotions of drug offenders and increase a sense of control in their own life. Participants were recruited from a prison and a total of 12 male offenders volunteered to participate in the study. The average age was 39 years old, and the average period of imprisonment was 17 months. Participants were all recidivists and long-term drug users. There were three cores in the savoring group program: savoring concepts and experiences, a four-factor model of perceived control, and the savoring strategies. The savoring group program included eight sessions, each session lasting for approximately 90 minutes and took place twice a week. In the data collection process, participants were randomly assigned to two groups, with 6 participants in each group. Two interviews were given at the mid-term and at the end of the savoring group program (totallying four interviews) for the participants to be included into the the focus group interviews. There were a total of 4 focus group interviews and each one took about 100 minutes (2 med-term interviews and 2 the end interviews). The data from interviews were analyzed by the phenomenological method. Results of what the participants learned and how they changed in the savoring group program were as follows: First, in regards to the conversion of negative events and emotions: Participants changed their original negative inner-situation to a positive inner-situation, therefore they could create positive self-talk towards themselves. They also experienced the actual, at the moment experience through recognizing and clarifying between the past, present and future. Second, in regards to generating and continuation of savoring: Participants modified and expanded their cognitive schemas such as what was real happiness and how to get it, generating a new happiness cycle in their mind. Savoring experiences are similar to an outward migration which participants started to savor by oneself in the beginning, and then by experiencing through interacting with others. Third, in regards to the savoring strategies: Which included "sharing with others," "at-the-moment concentration," "self-admiration," and "recognition of good occurrances." "Sharing with others" and "at-the-moment concentration" were included in the "savoring the moment," while "self-admiration" was part of "anticipation," and "recognition of good occurrances" belonged to "reminiscing." Conclusions showed that the process of savoring could be understood through a four-factor model of perceived control, and savoring experiences through the past, present and future of one's life. According to the above, suggestions were as follows: an experience-based savoring group program should be created to expand the positive emotions among drug offenders, such as gratitude, peace, joy, and hope. Continuing to practice savoring would improve self-awareness and interpersonal relationship. Teaching savoring strategies should be a step-by-step process, allowing for the easier strategies to be taught first, such as sharing with others and at-the-moment concentration. For future research, there are two suggestions. One was to conduct quantitative research assessing the effect of a savoring group grogram. Another is to examine the continuous relationship between savoring and relapse. Finally, the limitations of the present research are discussed, which included the strict entry and exit controls, which compelled the researcher to be a teacher, an interviewer, and one of the data collectors during the research process in order to reduce the number of people entering the prison. This situation might lead to some errors in data collection.

Keywords
Drug addiction, drug offenders, focus group interview, perceived control, savoring.

Download
Download