Theory of Constraints Handbook - James Cox Iii [541]
Negative Peer Pressure
Negative peer pressure is cited as one of the biggest obstacles to successful rehabilitation. For many offenders, their negative peers represent their de facto family, or brotherhood, especially when they have come from families with little or no parental support or supervision. As a result, there is a disproportionate amount of loyalty and “stickiness” in these relationships, many of which are formed during the impressionable teenage years that provide a sense of belonging, security, and self-esteem. Unless there is an alternative way to satisfy these underlying needs (e.g., reconciliation with family, success in work, or finding a new circle of friends), these relationships are almost impossible to wean.
I have been in conflict between me and my mum since 1999, the year which I went to Reformative Training Centre for rioting. Actually my mum had already warn me when I was sentence to Boy’s Home in 1998. After I’ve been released with electronic tagging, I started to build a bridge toward my mum by going back to school but in the end, the bridge demolished. It goes same until now, when ever the bridge been build, it destroy by me. So last year, I started to build it once more, it goes the same. My fault is, I never keep my promises to her….
FIGURE 27-3 Cloud diagram.
On a very simplistic level, we can liken this to a child who, whenever he falls down, immediately cries for his mother. In the same manner, whenever the ex-inmate feels threatened in a stressful work environment, the tendency is to run toward the comfort zone of negative peers who provide both emotional and financial support. The core problem lies in the latter form of support rather than the former, which invariably in this group of peers is not easily delinked. Conditional to having this emotional security and acceptance, one needs to behave in a manner acceptable to the group. In more cases than not, this involves delinquent behavior to obtain “easy money,” which, in a very twisted logic loop, brings about an even greater sense of acceptance, achievement, and self-worth from their peers.
Consider the following highlighted excerpt from Fig. 27-4 of a crudely constructed TOC Current Reality Tree (CRT) skeleton drilling down from why the author does not see the need to change. The only question asked at each level is “why?” Even though the logical links are somewhat flawed and incomplete, it is astonishing to see the level of honest self-reflection after a brief two-hour exercise bearing in mind his lower education level and limited verbalization ability. From a starting position of blame (highlighted undesirable effects [UDEs]), the core problem shifts to self. Notice the importance of the branch originating from his desire to “feel famous and recognized” or, put another way, to have a sense of identity, which is provided from his peers.
Importance of Face
Linked inexorably to these issues is the Asian intangible concept of “face,” which is used in relation to honor, and its opposite, humiliation. Loss of face is linked to the fear that others may think badly of you, will not respect you, and will laugh and whisper about you behind your back. A similar term in Malay is “malu,” which means social shame, the inner feeling of doing something wrong and letting others down. In Asian society, protecting against loss of face becomes so central an issue that it swamps the importance of other tangible issues at stake.
FIGURE 27-4 Current Reality Tree skeleton.
For inmates, the importance