| Popis: |
Professionals dealing with individuals who manifest problems of addiction, alcoholism, criminal behavior, and impulsive behavior have, in general, attempted to seek denominators common to all of these problems. This approach often leads to the creation of a mental set that can severely limit further exploration and critical thinking by therapists or counselors. Whether we care to admit it or not, terms such as “addict,” “alcoholic,” or “criminal” arouse mental images that have been reinforced over time by several factors: social attitudes toward deviant behavior, media presentation of individuals or groups manifesting impulsive behavior, and personal contact or experience of both professionals and lay persons with these individuals. By recognizing that we hold these stereotypic images and attitudes, at least at some level, we can progress beyond our own prejudice and engage in more objective, discriminate thinking about the relevant factors in assessing the behavior patterns of a particular individual. |
