Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

I keep reading all the Chris Brown, Rhianna stuff and how people have written him off completely and said lock him up for the rest of his life.

Now, I'm not at all condoning what he did, but is there anyone out there that believes that he can recover from this?

Not professionally, but honestly learn from what he did and never do it again?

Get in control of his anger or whatever caused this and get it back together?

We root for Britany after she went crazy and possibly put her kids in danger.

We root for Robert Downey, Jr. who did some seriously bad stuff.

I see people say "aw" over Josh Brolin and Diane Lane and he was arrested for domestic abuse.

What's the difference here?


(Edit for grammar)

Message edited 3/13/2009 10:09:26 AM.

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

For the record, I'm not rooting for any of those you mentioned...

I think some people can *suppress* certain tendencies, but aren't ever truly "rehabilitated". Alcoholics admit that they are never "cured", just currently sober. I think it's similar in this case.

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

I think Chris Brown is young enough to have the potential to be rehabilitated.

he is certainly not the first man of fame to beat and equally famous woman, but he might be the youngest, which I think works in his favor.

I think there are mistakes being made by whoever is handling them, which is a shame.

When I see Josh Brolin, I always think of that call that was made...and I wonder, if he REALLY did hit Diane (there were no photos and I don't think anyone pressed charges) but he has been involved in violent altercations before...and I think rehabilitating someone older like him would be more difficult.

so, to sum up , I hope they both get the help they need. and I hope that he learns to find a better outlet for his anger, and learns that he should NEVER lay his hands on a woman like that again.

I will say though that if it's true that Rihanna engaged in a physical fight with him (she hit him first, according to certain sources) SHE should also learn to control her anger...b/c if you hit a dude that also has anger issues...you're gonna get your azz kicked.

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

Yes, I've seen it first hand. Someone I know had a very troubling past - compulsive liar, stole money, alcoholic, couldn't hold a job, had no regard for others, etc. He completely turned himself around. Now he drinks socially, but never to the point where he gets drunk. He has held a job for a few years now and is excited to make his own money and pay for his own things. The lying has been difficult for him to stop completely, but everyone who knows him is just in awe of how far he has come. People who didn't think people could change have a new outlook because of him.

He's been "rehabilitated" for 3 years now. Can he slip back into that mode? Sure. When things get stressful I notice he has a hard time because he wants to drink but knows it will only make things worse. But I can see the change deep down and he's much happier, so I think even if he were to slip back into it, he'd work even harder to come back out of it.

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

I know that people can't be cured, but they can be rehabilitated. Just like an alcoholic, 20 years later they need to attend a meeting just for the support.

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

I didn't know Josh Brolin hit Diane Lane.

Anyway- I do think that it is possible for an abuser to get in control of their anger and avoid being violent again.

Do I think it is possible for Chris Brown, specifically? Maybe, but I lean towards not. I feel like his public appearances and his attitude lack any real remorse and that he doesn't realize the gravity of his actions. As far as I know, he hasn't sought professional help, which would go a long way in convincing me that he has the ability to get himself under control.

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

I do think that people can be rehabilitated IF they want it.
To me, the key is that someone has to want to change themselves and they realize there is a problem.

Do I think Chris Brown will change? - probably not. I don't think he's accepted that he has a problem.

Britney has mental issues (IMO) and I think that her family has helped her get back on track and maybe back on meds.

Robert Downey Jr. recognized his problems (more than once) and has gotten help (more than once).

As far as Josh Brolin/Diane Lane - I never heard of this, but I think that if he sought help or they sought help together they may have worked through this issue.

If Chris Brown does recognize that there is a problem, I totally agree with another poster that he is young and should be able to change.

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

yes.

i have worked with batters and substance abusers (both those that have ben incarcerated and those who have not).

i have seen people work VERY hard to become clean and sober.

i have seen grown men work VERY hard to be able to be involved in relationships with women that do not involve verbal, mental, or physical violence.

in my experience, they don't even have to want to change very badly (at first). but they must be committed, they must be motivated, and they must understand that in order to truly change and be rehabilitated, that change is an ONGOING process, and never ever ends for as long as they live.

Message edited 3/13/2009 11:22:54 AM.

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

I think anyone can be rehabilitated (this is speaking of abuse, drugs, drinking or any other "addiction") If they want it and have people to support them

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

In certain cases, yes i think people can be rehabilitated to a certain extent. As others have said, alcoholics can be sober, but never 100% 'cured'.
For some people, that means never putting themselves in a situation where they can lose control and fall back into bad behavior. Others can reach a point where they can handle being in situations where they are tempted, but can resist.

As for Chris Brown - I'm absolutely sickened by most of what i hear about this case. I don't care if she hit him first, NO ONE has any excuse for beating up their so called girlfriend like that.
I think she's an idiot for going back to him, and sending the worst possible message out to young girls (or any women) that somehow its 'ok' to do something like this. She's letting him get away with it and saying to all the other potential abusers out there that they can get away with it to.
She's lost any respect I would've had for her (not that i cared much about her anyway.. but its all over the news so you can't help but hear about it)
Even if Chris Brown went to anger management classes and expressed his remorse over it, i can't help but think that sometime, somewhere.. he'd do it again. Sorry.. i just have a special disgust for people who hit their SO's

I think stories of people beating their drug/alchohol addictions are a completely different story than a man who beats up his girlfriend.

Yes, i root for Robert Downey Jr to get his life back together. I hope people like Amy Winehouse ends up pulling through this and not dead of an OD.

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

I think people can "rehabilitate" if they want to, for certain things, basically, to learn what triggers the behavior that is not desired and learn how to control it. But they have to want it.

I think certain sociopathic behaviors cannot be rehabilitated. DH did 10 years of inpatient child psych and saw some ugly things from children that were complete sociopaths, no empathy. It was really terrible. If they do not learn at some point that what they are doing is wrong, because so many really don't, they will never be "rehabilitated".

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

It depends on the case or the situation , but in most cases NO I do not believe so.

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

I think Britney started out with post-partum and then doubled that when she got pregnant again right away and again after he was born. I think it really spiraled out of control for her.

I think Chris Brown needs to be pushed in the right direction. Making a duet and not being dropped for kid's choice awards is not learning a lesson. I think if there is no lesson learned, there will be no desire to change.

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

Yes, but only if they want to be.

You can't make someone do something they don't want to.

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

I am close with some recovering addicts who I believe to be rehabilitated. They did some very hard work to beat their addictions. The first step was admitting their problem and getting help. They say they will always be addicts, but as long as they keep getting the help they need, they are on the right track.

I believe with PP about sociopaths- they will always be this way.

I am not sure about Chris Brown. Is his remorse genuine, or is he just sorry he got caught? I don't know what his mental state is, or if this attack was the result of substance abuse (many are).

BTW- I believe OJ Simpson, a wife beater and murderer, is a sociopath and beyond rehabilitation.

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

Yes, but you can't help someone who does not want to be helped.

They (the persons needing the rehabilitation) need to want to change.

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

Absolutley! I mean he is 19, he can learn to manage his anger. It will be a long, hard road and it will not be easy but he can over come this. I think that for people to "give up" on a 19 yr old boy is sad. What he did is awful, but he can get better.

The two people sttistically they say really do not rehab are rapists and pedophiles.

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

I do, if and only if the person needing it is willing and ready. They have to be ready to do it on their own.

I also think that saying "i'm going to change" and actually doing something about it...taking an extremely active part in your rehabilitation are 2 different things.

If you're not willing to actually commit to putting in the time, effort and the work it takes, then no, I don't think a person can be rehabilitated.

It takes a lot of time and therapy/counseling to help in certain situations.

And I believe you also need a strong support system around you and people that are willing to do what they can to help.

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

Re: Do you believe people can be rehabilitated?

I think it depends on what they did as far as rehabilitation goes. I have seen people who were addicted to substances get help and not go back. I think if someone hurts a child there is no rehabilitating and they should be locked up and the key thrown away. Chris Brown is young and if he recognizes he has anger problems and gets the help he needs he has that going for him. If he doesn't acknowledge to himself that what he did was wrong then maybe not.