Evaluation of Social Skills Training for Treating the Offender

Question 1

+ Review of 30 studies

Answer 1

A review of 30 studies of SST use with aggressive or delinquent teensagers found that various skills such as the use of eye contact and negotiation skills had been learned. However, only about 20% of trainees use the skills they had learned in real life

Question 2

• Lower conviction rates, but greater criminality

Answer 2

Research shows that the rates of reconviction were lower after SST. However, when offenders were questioned, it seemed that they report having committed more offences, so ST might simply improve their ability to talk to police and avoid arrest

Question 3

• Skills disappear

Answer 3

Research has shown that offenders do learn the relevant skills, but that they may disappear in the longer term - skills were present after three months, but not after six

Question 4

• Only short term

Answer 4

SST results in short-term changes but is yet to be shown convincingly that it has a long-term benefit