Institutional Betrayal Among Previous Attendees of Private Youth Behavioral Modification Programs

• In Event: Harming instead of Helping: Institutional Betrayal, Trauma and Total Institutions

Abstract

In recent years, there has been growing interest in private youth behavioral modifications programs. This interest is in part influenced by the lack of program transparency, which has so far resulted in limited knowledge regarding the experiences individuals have within them. Such a situation presents the unique opportunity for the manipulation of the power dynamics that exist between an institution and those it serves. Using data from a quantitative survey of previous program participants in Spring 2024, the data was analyzed to determine whether or not youth undergo negative experiences during their tenure with these institutions. First, frequency distributions will be used to determine the presence of abuse, and if present, what type of abuse is the most prevalent. Second, a logistic regression will be employed to determine if program participants of a certain demographic may be disproportionately likely to experience this abuse. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Author

• Rachel Corsello, University of Cincinnati