A Group Dynamics Approach to the Treatment of Nonconformists in the Navy

Abstract

In an attempt to bring about attitudinal and behavioral change in the nonconformist, confinees of a correc tional institution for Navy and Marine offenders were placed in small closed communities. Men were selected for the re search companies on the basis of fitting a certain level on a scale of interpersonal maturity. Groups were composed of high social maturity men, low maturity men, or half low maturity men and half high maturity men. Twenty confined men with three Marine supervisors lived in the same quarters; ate together; participated in competitions as a unit; and shared work, educational, and recreational experiences. The attempt was made to keep all interpersonal interactions within the group. It was hypothesized that forcing the delinquent to live with and face his interpersonal problems would bring about in him a challenging uncomfortableness which would lead to personality change. A follow-up report on each man was ob tained six months after his return to military duty. The rela tionship between the man's interpersonal maturity level and his postinstitutional success is markedly affected by the nature of his supervision while confined.