An examination of the Adlerian construct of social interest with criminal offenders. (Research)

The present study addressed the utility of the construct of social interest as related to the behaviors of criminal offenders. Social interest involves concern for others and optimism regarding one's view of the world. Offender scores on the Sulliman Scale of Social Interest (J. R. Sulliman, 1973) were examined along with demographic and criminal history predictors of parolee outcomes following release from a medium security correctional institution. The results indicated significant relationships between social interest scores and offender outcome as demonstrated by employment status, new felony arrests, and reincarceration status. The results have implications for those involved in predictive and rehabilitative efforts with criminal offenders.
A Bureau of Justice study of offenders released from state prisons in 1983 revealed that 62.5% were rearrested for a serious offense and 41.5% were returned to jail or prison [...]