Transcendental meditation and rehabilitation at folsom prison: Response to a Critique

Abstract

The article responds to the challenge posed that findings by Abrams and Siegel on the TM Program at Folsom State Prison resulted from Rosenthal, experimental bias, effects, and that the data was parsimoniously interpreted by the authors. The authors noted that Rosenthal effects are not so pervasive that in every possible instance promising treatments should be discounted. Moreover, EPI Lie Scale data indicate that, if anything, the treatment reduced the inmates' modest tendency to make socially desirable, untrue responses. No consistent relations between levels of Lie Scale and criterion variables were found in a meta-analysis of the data. In conclusion, the potential cost effectiveness of the program, which was questioned by the critic, was supported by an analysis of preliminary recidivism rates of discharged participants. © 1979, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.