A Model Of Engagement For Correctional Practice

Despite recent advances in correctional rehabilitation, rates of treatment attrition remain high and low efficacy rates suggest improvements in treatment development and delivery are needed. Treatment engagement is an important concept which remains poorly understood. In order to enhance understanding and facilitate higher levels of engagement in treatment, robust theoretical models need to be developed. In light of this, two key questions need to be answered; (1) what is engagement? And (2) what are the underlying causal mechanisms which facilitate or hinder engagement? I explore the contributions of current conceptualisations and models of correctional treatment engagement. I explain how evolutionary psychology, agency, norms and the therapeutic alliance can contribute to our theoretical understanding. These concepts are then integrated to form the Model of Engagement for Correctional Practice. Engagement is conceptualised as a set of adaptive, goal-directed behaviours occurring as a result of the dynamic interactions between contextual, psychological and social processes. I argue that these factors influence the nature of the therapeutic alliance and subsequently participant engagement. The model is then evaluated in terms of critical features required for a robust theory of engagement. I then suggest some practice principles and guidelines to demonstrate how this model can be applied to enhance treatment engagement.