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Criminologists have searched for several decades for ways to improve the delivery of treatment to offenders. In the process, various program characteristics that reduce recidivism' have been identifled. Despite this encouraging news, treatment staff burnout has been virtually overlooked as a barrier to correctional rehabilitation. As with other service providers, prison treatment staff can burn out and subsequently become less effective and committed to their profession.
Burnout has been defined as: exhaustion, wearing out or failing;2 a syndrome consisting of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment;3 and a three-stage process that includes, in order of progression, job stress, worker strain and defensive coping.4 The commonality linking these definitions is a depletion of inner resources in the form of exhaustion or strain. Whether lackluster self-appraisals and maladjusted coping, such as cynicism, withdrawal and depersonalizing clients, are part of burnout or a reaction to it remains unresolved.
Although frequently mistaken as synonymous, stress and burnout are different. Stress is the physical or psychological tension derived from demands that exceed available resources.5 Often misinterpreted as an all-around nuisance, stress can bring about both positive and negative results. When experienced in the right proportions, it can inspire a worker to perform better.6 Burnout, on the other hand, marks a deteriorating condition that originates from ill-- managed stress. Unless the burnout victim receives help and recovers, mustering the energy to function at an ordinary level will become a continual struggle.
Consequences of Burnout
Job burnout poses many pitfalls to treatment providers. From heavy strain and exhaustion a number of physical symptoms can arise: headaches, low stamina, gastrointestinal ailments, breathing problems, sleeplessness and lingering illnesses are just a few. Along with the physical hazards, psychological disturbances are common. Burnout carries the potential to weaken self-esteem, drain enthusiasm and motivation, invoke depressed and helpless feelings, and stimulate anger and irritability.8 Because of these physical and psychological detriments, negative shifts in behavior can occur. Burned-out workers have been known to escape from their troubles through drug and alcohol use.9 They become vulnerable to taking uncalculated risks10 and shying away from demanding problems.11 Some professionals in the clutches of burnout begin to oppose any challenge to the status quo;12 others seek solitude and refrain from voicing their opinions.13 Attitudes toward behavior therapy may...