Natti Ronel

Professor Natti Ronel is an Israeli clinical criminologist, specializing in the treatment of addictions, violence and victimization, serving as Head of the Criminology Department at Bar-Ilan University (2013–2016).Ronel is the theorist and founder of Positive Criminology, Positive Victimology and of the "Graceway" for self-change and formal therapy (also known as Grace Therapy). He is currently working on the development of Spiritual Criminology, which is an innovative approach to criminology based on a vast field of knowledge derived from different spiritual traditions. Referring to a spiritual perspective, this novel approach generates a synthesis of contemporary criminological knowledge. Ronel also works privately with individuals suffering from any type of addiction, addicts’ families, people with criminal background, youth in distress, individuals suffering from violence, victims of violence and injury, as well as people seeking for spiritual change in their lives.

Biography

Natti Ronel was born in 1958 in the city of Holon, Israel. He graduated from the Haim Kugel High School’s science program with honors (1976). He started his undergraduate studies in the department of psychology and a special program for outstanding students at the University of Haifa and obtained his B.A. in Psychology and Humanities from the special program for outstanding undergraduates at Tel-Aviv University (1984). Following a 2-year journey abroad, mostly in Asia, he enrolled for a direct PhD program in the Institute for Criminology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem under the supervision of renowned criminologist and recipient of the Israel Prize, Professor Menachem Amir (1995). He did his post-doctoral research at the Tel-Aviv University Bob Shapell School of Social Work, under the supervision of Professor Meir Teichman (1997). During his graduate and postgraduate studies he was awarded numerous scholarships for his achievements.

Teaching and research

Since 2003 Ronel has been holding different teaching positions in the Department of Criminology, Bar-Ilan University, Israel. Since 2013 he serves as the Head of the Department. Throughout his academic career, he has lectured at Tel-Aviv University Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Rupin College, Tel-Hai College and Netanya College. He was the Researcher-in-Chief at The Forum for Children and Youth Affairs (1998–2002), an institution that was associated with "Elem" charity for youth in distress and the Tel-Aviv University Bob Shapell School of Social Work. In addition, Ronel held training seminars geared at counseling professionals in various settings such as the Israeli Prison Service, Israeli Anti-Drug authority, "Selah" Addiction Treatment Centers in Beer-Sheva and the Central School for Social Welfare Workers.

Research topics

Narcotics Anonymous and addiction recovery

Ronel began his research career with his doctoral thesis about the organization "Narcotics Anonymous" (NA). He published several articles in both Israeli and international journals[1][2][3][4][5] based on this research. His postdoctoral research focused on the moral development of addicted individuals during their recovery.

Volunteers with youth

Ronel led various studies about youth in different situations of distress and on the different services for youth in distress, including volunteering with youth in distress and youth on the streets.[6][7] Based on this research he first developed the concept of "perceived altruism", which relates to the perception of the volunteers in the welfare services as altruistic, and to the influence this perception bears on the recovery process of those who benefit from the service.[8][9] Ronel also directed a research on youth with an addicted parent, and on the basis of its findings he first defined the concepts of "subjective risk and protective factors".[10][11]

Phenomenological criminology

Ronel took part in a study on the process of forgiving in bereaved Israeli parents,[12][13] and also directed a large number of phenomenological studies on criminal careers, mainly on the rehabilitation of offenders and on the experience of victims of violence,[14][15] On the basis of these different studies, he developed the Criminal Spin Model that offers a descriptive phenomenological explanation on the acceleration of criminal behavior in its various manifestations.[16][17] Based on this approach, he further developed both "Positive Criminology" and "Positive Victimology" perspectives, which have also been the subject of extensive research.[18][19][20][21][22][23] These innovative approaches to criminology and victimology are gaining worldwide acclaim,[24] and they are presented in important international congresses.

Therapeutic approaches

Graceway

In the 90’s Ronel started developing "Graceway" which is both a path leading to personal change and a therapeutic approach used by mental health professionals in Israel,[25][26][27] This approach originated in the 12-step recovery program of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the international mutual aid fellowship for alcoholics, expanding it to a large variety of human conditions, behaviors and personality disorders, problem and distress areas.

Graceway deepens the 12-step program by adding professional knowledge from behavioral and social sciences. It mainly brings added value through the spiritual knowledge stemming from an array of traditions and attempts to derive the essence common to the different spiritual methods.[28] In the 90’s Ronel worked in both group and individual therapy with violent men and their spouses. This accumulation of experience contributed to his establishment of Graceway as a therapeutic strategy. Since then, Ronel has held many Graceway training seminars for professionals from a wide range of disciplines, and has lectured about the method in different international conferences.

Positive Criminology

Positive Criminology places an emphasis on social inclusion and on unifying and integrating forces at individual, group, social and spiritual levels that are associated with the limiting of crime. Traditional approaches’ study of crime, violence and related behaviors emphasizes the negative aspects in people’s lives that are associated with deviance and criminality. A common understanding is that human relationships are affected more by destructive encounters than by constructive or positive ones. Positive Criminology aims to broaden our understanding beyond the usual focus of criminology on separating, excluding, and disintegrating forces and processes that lead individuals and groups to embrace deviant and criminal lifestyles and activities. Positive criminology argues that a different approach is viable, that is, a positive, life changing effect of positive experiences. These positive experiences contribute to rehabilitation and recovery by enhancing change in three dimensions – social integration, emotional healing and spirituality – that constitute indicators of positive direction.

Publications – books

Ronel, N., & Haimoff-Ayali, R. (2009). In the shadow of addiction: Vulnerability and hope among adolescents who grew up with an addicted parent. Kiriat Bialik, IL: Ach, 178 pages (Hebrew).

Ronel, N., Chen, G., Timor, U. & Elisha, E. (2011). Retorno: An orthodox Jewish therapeutic community for addiction treatment. Ramat-Gan: Bar-Ilan University Press, 204 pages (Hebrew).

Ronel, N. (ed.)(2012). Gone with the spirit. Ramat-Gan: Bar-Ilan University Press, 252 pages (Hebrew).

Ronel, N., Jaishankar, K., & Bensimon, M. (eds.)(2008). Trends and issues in victimology. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 338 pages.

Jaishankar, K., & Ronel, N. (2013)(eds.). Global criminology: Crime and victimization in a globalized era. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 376 pages.

Ronel, N., & Segev, D. (2015)(eds.). Positive Criminology. London & New York: Routledge, 355 page

Further reading

Natti Ronel and Ya’ara Toren (2012). Positive Victimology – An innovation or "more of the same"? Temida. 15(2), 171–180.

Natti Ronel (2009). The criminal spin: Towards an alternative criminological theory. In K. Jaishankar (ed.), International perspectives on crime and justice (pp. 126–145). Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

References

  1. ↑ Ronel, N. (1997). "The universality of a self-help program of American origin: Narcotics Anonymous in Israel.". Social Work in Health Care, 25(3), 87–101.
  2. ↑ Ronel, N. (1998). "Narcotics Anonymous: Understanding the bridge of recovery.". Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 27(1/2), 179–197.
  3. ↑ Ronel, N. (1998). "Twelve-step self-help groups: The spontaneous emergence of "Grace Communities". Social Development Issues, 20(3), 53–72.
  4. ↑ Ronel, N., & Humphreys, K. (1999–2000). "World-views transformations of Narcotics Anonymous members in Israel. International". Journal of Self-Help and Self-Care, 1(1), 101- 127.
  5. ↑ Ronel, N., & Teichman, M. (2003). "Moral judgment among alcohol-other drug dependent persons in recovery". Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 21(1), 49–61.
  6. ↑ Ringel, S., Ronel, N., & Gatahune, S. (2005). "Factors in the integration process of adolescent immigrants: The case of Ethiopian Jews in Israel". International Social Work, 48(1), 63–76.
  7. ↑ Haski-Leventhal, D., Ronel, N., York, A.S., & Ben-David, B.M. (2008). "Youth volunteering for youth: Who are they serving? How are they being served?". Children and Youth Services Review, 30(7), 834–846.
  8. ↑ Ronel, N. (2006). "When good overcomes bad: The impact of volunteers on those they help.". Human Relations, 59(8), 1133–1153.
  9. ↑ Ronel, N., Haski-Leventhal, D., Ben-David, B.M., & York, A.S. (2009). "Perceived altruism: A neglected factor in initial intervention". International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 53(2), 191–210.
  10. ↑ Ronel, N., & Haimov-Eyali, R. (2010). "Risk and resilience: The family experience of adolescents with an addicted parent.". International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 54(3), 448–472.
  11. ↑ Ronel, N., & Levy – Cahana, M. (2011). "Growing-up with a substance-dependent parent: Development of subjective risk and protective factors". Substance Use & Misuse, 46(5), 608–619.
  12. ↑ Ronel, N., & Lebel, U. (2006). "When parents lay their children to rest". Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 23(4), 507–522.
  13. ↑ Lebel, U., & Ronel, N. (2009). "The emotional re-engineering of loss: On the grief-anger-social action continuum". Political Psychology, 30(5), 669–691.
  14. ↑ Ronel, N., Gueta, K., Abramsohn, Y., Caspi, N., & Adelson, M. (2011). "Can a 12-step program work in methadone maintenance treatment?". International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 55(7), 1135 – 1153.
  15. ↑ Luria, R., Ben-David, S., & Ronel, N. (2014). Positive victimology: The voice arising from the field. In P. Schafer & E. Weitekamp (Ed.), Establishing victimology: Festscrift for Prof. Gerd Ferdinand Kirchhoff (pp. 351–366). Monchengladbach: Hochschhule Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences (invited chapter).
  16. ↑ Ronel, N. (2011). "Criminal behavior, criminal mind: Being caught in a criminal spin.". International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 55(8), 1208 – 1233.
  17. ↑ Bensimon, M., & Ronel, N. (2012). "The flywheel effect of intimate partner violence: A victim-perpetrator interactive spin.". Aggression and Violent Behavior, 17, 423–429.
  18. ↑ Ronel, N., & Elisha, E. (2011). "A different perspective: Introducing positive criminology.". International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 55(2), 305–325.
  19. ↑ Elisha, E., Idisis, Y. & Ronel, N. (2013). "Positive criminology and imprisoned sex offenders: Demonstration of a way out from a criminal spin through acceptance relationships". Journal of Sexual Aggression, 19(1), 66–80.
  20. ↑ Ronel, N., Frid, N., & Timor, U. (2013). "The practice of positive criminology: A Vipassana course in prison.". International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 57(2), 133 – 153.
  21. ↑ Ronel, N., & Segev, D. (2014). "Positive criminology in practice.". International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 58(1), 1389–1407.
  22. ↑ Ronel, N., Chen, G., & Elisha, E. (2015). "Application of positive criminology in Retorno – a Jewish therapeutic community for people with addictions.". Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 54, 122–141.
  23. ↑ Shechory-Bitton, M., & Ronel, N. (2015). Posttraumatic growth and positive victimology: The case of ultra-Orthodox Jewish women who resided in a shelter. In N. Ronel & D. Segev (eds.), Positive Criminology (pp. 250–260). London & New York: Routledge.
  24. ↑ Ronel, N. (2015). "Why victimology should stay positive – the ongoing need for positive victimology". Temida, 18(3–4), 5–16.
  25. ↑ Ronel, N. (2000). "From self-help to professional care: An enhanced application of the 12-step program.". Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 36(1), 108–122.
  26. ↑ Ronel, N., and Claridge, H. (1999). "Grace therapy: A new approach to the treatment of male batterers.". Contemporary Justice Review, 2(3), 283–308.
  27. ↑ Ronel, N., & Tim, R. (2003). "Grace therapy: Meeting the challenge of group therapy for male batterers.". Clinical Social Work Journal, 31(1), 63–80.
  28. ↑ Ronel, N. (2008). "The experience of spiritual intelligence.". Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 40(1), 100–119.

External links

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