Power Orientation &
Criminal Thinking
Presented by
Mark D. Kendall & Kelli Held
Have You Ever Read…
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The Criminality Personality, V.1 - 3
Inside the Criminal Mind
Straight Talk About Criminals
Before it’s Too Late
The Myth of the Out of Character Crime
Goal
In order to work more effectively with the
Criminal Personality and reduce
workplace frustration the learner
• Will be provided with an understanding
of the Power Orientation Error.
• ID the ineffective methods when
addressing it
• ID the effective methods to address it
Power Orientation
Putdown
Power Thrust
Stage
Anger Stage
Zero
Stage
Power Orientation
Putdown
Verbal
Non-verbal
Physical
Financial
Mental/Emotional
Perceived
The Putdown is Defined in the Mind of
the Beholder
“The criminal is always angry because the world rarely
meets h/her expectations. Think of it this way. If
every day of your life you expected everything to go
exactly as you wanted and you counted on people
treating you as you believed they should, you would
experience countless disappointments. The criminal
expects things to go h/her way, and thinking
something makes it so. The slightest disparity
between h/her expectations and reality constitutes a
severe blow to h/her self-esteem. H/her thinking runs
in extremes so that no middle ground exists between
being number one and being a zero.”
Dr. Samenow, Straight Talk About Criminals
Power Thrust Stage
Putdown
Triumph! Controlling
others & achieving
victory at their
expense
Something Doesn’t
Go as Planned/Pan
out
Statement of Fact
Number 1 Again
Feedback
Murphy’s Law
R.C.A.
Transparency
Zero
All Encompassing
Stage
Permanence
Anger
Stage
Power Orientation
Putdown
Power Thrust
Stage
A Client
Voice Mail Example*
Zero
Stage
Anger
Stage
“Most Common Error When Dealing with Criminals”,
by Dr. Stanton Samenow:
In any contact with a criminal, one must avoid verbally
cornering and attacking h/her.
“No matter how tough the offender seems, s/he has a
very thin skin and quickly becomes defensive. The
criminal perceives even the slightest reproach as a
devastating blow to h/her entire self-worth. One can be
confrontative without being provocative. In all
interactions, it is important to convey one’s message in
such a manner that the criminal does not feel personally
threatened.”
Maintaining an even and respectful tone is far more
effective than coming across as accusatory or hostile.
Ineffective Responses to Power Thrusts
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Ignoring = Condoning
Telling & Dictating
Judging, Putdowns, & Personal Jokes
Lecturing
Condescending Tone
Taking the Power Thrust Personal
Effective Responses to Power Thrusts
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Asking instead of Dictating
Firm, but Fair
Objectivity
Neutral Tone
Avoid Personal Reactions and taking
the bait.
• Using Your Skills…
“Effective Of Use Of Authority”
Univ. of Cincinnati’s Core Correctional Practices
1. Be direct & specific concerning your
demands, using a normal voice.
2. State the specific choices & the
consequences of those choices.
3. Provide respectful guidance toward
compliance.
4. Praise compliance or enforce
consequences.
Processing the Error
“Target the Thinking”
We Address the Past
So We Can Assess the Present
To Prepare for the Future
Past, Present, Future
Preceding
Thoughts
What’s the big deal. •
I’m 25yrs old. I
should be able to
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have a couple
beers. I haven’t
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used dope in 3
mos.… Client
Drinks and ends up
blowing a positive
alco-sensor the next
day.
Struggling with
RCA
Presenting
Zero Stage
Thoughts
Where can these
thoughts lead
me?
I look like a chump •
sitting here.
You know they’re
•
laughing at me.
I’m going to jail.
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Refuse
Accountability
Fuel the Anger
and Power
Thrust
Excuse to use
Intervention &
Prevention
Thoughts
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Are these thoughts helping?
I set myself up.
My daughter is
coming home
soon.
I’ve come too
far.
I have to follow
these rules &
that means no
drinking.
What can I tell
myself?
Some Closing Comments…
Sources
• Dr. Stanton Samenow, Straight Talk About
Criminals, 1998.
• Dr. Samuel Yochelson, Dr. Stanton
Samenow, The Criminal Personality, V.1: A
Profile for Change, 1977.
Presenter Information
Mark D. Kendall, markkendall@orianahouse.org; 330-535-8116, Ext. 3037
Kelli Held, kelliheld@orianahouse.org; 330-535-8116, Ext. 2339