Page 176 - DEDU506_SPECIAL_EDUCATION_ENGLISH

Special Education

Notes (1) Re-education (2) Mental Catharsis (3) Persuasion (4) Suggestion and (5) Change in Environment
and situations.
(1) Re-education: The scientific approach which is very much conducive for treating juveniles is
re-education. This technique reforms the offender, re-educates him an rehabilitates him. The
objectives also include the change of behaviour and attitude of the offender. By that he will
look upon the world as a fully potential friend. Social adaptation under better conditions is
possible through this technique.
(2) Mental Catharsis: Catharsis means the avoidance of under repression. It provides opportunity
to the child to express his pent up and suppressed emotional feelings by means of free
expression. Catharsis consists simply in eliminating troubles, worries and conflicts. Therapist
has to hear the delinquent's outpouring patiently and without imposing any comments of his
own. Through this method, the delinquent is encouraged to realise the cause of his own
problems.
(3) Persuasion: Through this procedure, the patient's symptoms, actions and reactions are
analysed, many logical and common sense facts are suggested and the delinquents it therapists
may persuade the delinquent not to get invoved in delinquency in future. But this persuasion
should be logical and appealing.
One major drawback of this procedure is that it is limited to the conscious level, whereas the
delinquents whose problems lie in the unconscious, cannot benefit form this technique.
(4) Suggestion: Suggestion is nothing but the implantation of an idea and is a successful appeal
to the subliminal self. It is true that children are more suggestive than adults. Positive
suggestions may strengthen the superego of juveniles. Basically this technique implies the
influence of one person upon the other and it is a process of communication from one
personality to another. It is one of the oldest techniques of mental treatment and is used to
supplement other methods of cure.
(5) Change in Environment: Different studies on delinquency reveal that changes in human and
material environment of the delinquent can help in removing many of the symptoms of the
delinquency in him. Nobody is a born delinquent. Rather delinquents are the products of
environmental influences. Psychotherapists suggest that the delinquents may be shifted to
better environments like foster homes.

Play therapy, finger painting and psycho-drama are some of the important techniques
which are used by the therapists to treat juveniles.

2. Prevention from Delinquency
The purpose of prevention is to develop attitudes, moral value and other competencies among the
children so that they may not acquire anti-social behaviour. The prevention measures have a very
wide field and requires the cooperation of home, school society and other social agencies. The causes
of delinquency have been discussed that parents behaviour and home conditions are responsible for
delinquency. There is an urgent need is to educate parents. The method of prevention of delinquency
are as follows:
1. Home conditions and Family System and
2. State and social agencies.
(1) Family System and Well-Adjusted Homes: Rapid urbanisation and scientific advancement have
resulted in weakening the family affecting the vitally important husband-wife and parent-child
relationships. The consequential social change has an adverse effect on unified life in a family. In our
traditioneloving society, the family is the sole agency for handing down the cultural heritage. The
behaviour of the individual is regulated by social control groups to which he belongs. In big cities,

170 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY