Techniques of Behaviour Change

Non-conformists are individuals who break the accepted norms, rules, and regulations of society. Society uses five specific techniques to change the behaviour of such antisocial and deviant persons and bring them back into the mainstream.

Resocialisation and Counselling

• Targets lower and middle level social deviants and asocial persons.
• Resocialisation process helps change those who break social norms, rules, and regulations.
• Counselling, guidance, and advice inform them of the unfavourable consequences of antisocial behaviour.
• Consequences affect them, their family, and society.
• Counselling is the best technique to change personality qualities amenable to change.

Proper Parental Care and Changing Parenting Style

• Most effective for juveniles and children of 8–10 years of age.
• Parental negligence leads to unacceptable behavioural patterns.
• Acquired behaviour patterns can be changed through proper parental behaviour.

Secondary Groups and Audio-Visual Media

• Behaviour is changed through secondary groups— friends, teachers, and classmates.
• Audiovisual aids like TV and cinema also influence and change behaviour.

Rehabilitation of Criminals

• Criminals are reformed through open jail systems and rehabilitation centres.
• Education and vocational guidance are provided.
• The goal is to help criminals re-enter the mainstream of society.

Sympathy and Empathy of Socio-Cultural Forces

• Antisocials should be dealt with sympathy, empathy, love, and affection — not hatred.
• They should not be reminded of their crimes.
• They should be dealt with on humanitarian grounds.
• A positive attitude towards them brings a lot of changes in their behaviour.

• Resocialisation and Counselling – Counselling helps change deviant behaviour by showing its negative consequences.
• Parental Care – Proper parenting corrects undesirable behaviours in children.
• Influence of Secondary Groups – Friends, teachers, and media positively influence behaviour.
• Rehabilitation – Programmes like education help criminals reintegrate into society.
• Sympathy and Empathy – Compassion and empathy can transform antisocial behaviour.