Predictors of Early Termination in a Prison-Based Program of Psychoeducation

Abstract

The Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) was administered to 207 male federal prisoners enrolled in a 10-week program of psychoeducation. Compared with inmates who completed the course, dropouts (n = 16) scored higher on seven of the eight PICTS thinking style scales, with differences on three of these scales (Mollification, Cognitive Indolence, and Discontinuity) achieving statistical significance. A multivariate composite of the eight thinking style scales proved significant, and the PICTS achieved significant predictability even after controlling for basic demographic measures such as age, education, ethnic status, marital status, and instant offense. Although a low base rate of discontinuation in the present sample (7.7%) made predicting program completion impractical, the PICTS may still help clarify the motives of incarcerated offenders who prematurely terminate psychoeducational programming.