Making sense of psychoanalysis in criminological theory and probation practice

Abstract

Recent developments in criminology have included a revival of interest in offenders' biographies and inner emotional experiences, and a stress on the importance of self-understanding for an understanding of crime. These approaches recall discussions of probation practice from the 1950s to the early 1970s, in which writers sought to make sense of the psychoanalytic emphasis of social work training. The article discusses the most striking of these efforts, by Clare Winnicott and William Jordan, and explores their relevance to current thinking and research on probation, in which the importance of the relationship between offender and supervising officer is once again receiving close attention.

The use of emotional literacy in work with sexual offenders

“…‘Self-awareness’ is a concept recognized historically in the probation service as an ‘understanding of self’ (Smith, 2006, Vanstone, 2007) and is a prerequisite of emotional literacy (Killick, 2006; Sharp, 2001). It is argued that we first need to know and understand our own emotions if we are to be able to recognize and respond to the emotions of others.…”

Review: Learning From Life: Becoming A Psychoanalyst Patrick Casement Routledge, 2006, pp 224; £29.95, pbk ISBN-13: 978—0—415—39931—9

“…Casement is, of course, not alone in assessing the usefulness of adapting psychoanalytic modes of thinking and practice to counselling offenders. Smith (2006) has provided an excellent historical account of some aspects of this, to which I subsequently added some brief supplementary comments (Prins, 2007). Casement describes (with the use of compelling case vignettes) the journey he made through probation and family casework into his eventual career as a psychoanalyst.…”

Psychoanalysis and probation practice: A brief additional perspective on Smith

“…has 'laboured' in the fields of both criminal justice and forensic mental health (also termed forensic psychiatry), I was much impressed by Professor Smith's recent article on psychoanalysis and probation practice (Smith, 2006). In this, he provides a fascinating and erudite depiction of the influences of psychoanalytic thinking (both implicit and explicit) on probation practice from the 1950s through to more recent times.…”