Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
Swift, certain and fair justice: Insights from behavioural learning and neurocognitive research
Ashlee Curtis1, George Youssef2,3, Belinda Guadagno2
1School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Abstract:
Increasingly, persons entering the criminal justice system are reporting substance-related concerns. It is therefore essential that interventions appropriately target the needs of substance-using offenders to ensure the rate of reoffending can be reduced. In this context, there is now a substantial literature demonstrating specific neurocognitive deficits among substance-using and offender populations, including, but not limited to, problems with executive function, rational decision making, consequential thinking and prospective memory. Such research is providing important insights into why current intervention approaches may not be as effective for substance-using offenders, and why emerging programs, such as 'swift, certain and fair' justice programs, which focus on guaranteed, immediate but proportionate sanctions, might be more successful in reducing both substance use and offending behaviour. In this paper, we argue that the potential success of this intervention can be understood from a behavioural learning and neurocognitive perspective, and may point the way forward for other approaches that seek to change behaviour.
Related Concept Videos
Avoidance Learning and Learned Helplessness
Avoidance learning occurs when an organism learns that a specific behavior can prevent an unpleasant outcome. For example, a student who receives a bad grade may start studying harder to avoid future poor grades. This behavior persists even when the negative outcome is no longer present. Avoidance learning is powerful because it maintains behavior in the absence of the...
Associative Learning
Classical conditioning, also known...
Purposive Learning
Observational Learning
Learning Disabilities
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Introduction to Learning
In contrast to learned behaviors, unlearned behaviors such as crying, sexual...

