Treating Criminals

Question 1

Anger Management (IS A CBT TREATMENT IF ASKED IN TEST)

Answer 1

Anger management suggests that the inability to control anger is the reason for offending. Novaco (1975) suggests some people are more likely to see events as threatening

Question 2

Anger Management 3 Stages

Answer 2

Cognitive Preparation - Offender reacts on situations that have triggered their anger in the past, and considers whether they could have reacted differently by rationalising the situation

Skill Acquisition - Offenders taught a range of skills to cope with anger-provoking situations. e.g. deep breathing

Application & Practice - Therapist devises situations where the skills can be practiced.

Question 3

Anger management study (Ireland)

APFC

Answer 3

A - To investigate the effectiveness of anger management

P - Offenders randomly allocated to one of two conditions. One group given 12 anger management sessions, the 2nd group had no treatment. Measures of progress were an interview, questionnaire and behaviour checklist by staff

F - 92% of 1st group saw improvement in at least one measure, 48% showed improvement on the questionnaire & behaviour checklist. Control group failed to show any improvement

C - Anger management is more effective than no treatment at all. Only short term, doesn’t prove long term effects of anger-management

Question 4

Anger Management 2 Strengths & Weaknesses

Answer 4

Strengths -

• Ireland (2004): Offenders given anger management treatment or not. 92% improvement in at least one of a questionnaire, staff behaviour checklist or interview. No improvement in condition with no treatment
• Eclectic approach - Addresses different aspects of offending behaviour. 3 different levels: cognitive, behavioural and social.

Weaknesses -

• Anger management may have undesirable effects. John Monckton murder in 2006. Monckton was murdered by Damien Hanson who managed to convince a parole board that he should be released following anger management therapy.
• Short-term nature of Irelands study, only 8 weeks. May not be enough time to see if behaviour changed in the long-term.

Question 5

Biological Treatment - Diet

Answer 5

It is suggested that people who are deficient in certain minerals are more likely to engage in aggressive, violent acts. Thus if an offenders diet is improved their general conduct may also improve. To improve offenders’ diet, a baseline measure of diet is first established, showing what minerals are lacking and need to be improved

Question 6

Supporting Study for Biological Treatment Diet - Gesch (2002)
APFC

Answer 6

A - Test whether improved diet would reduce aggression

P - 231 inmates. Some given a daily vitamin, fatty acid and mineral supplement, others given a placebo. Groups were matched for disciplinary incidents in the prion.

F - 35.1% reduction in disciplinary incidents per ‘thousand-person days’. 6.7% reduction in placebo.

C - Supplementing diets can lead to lower aggression

Question 7

Diet - 2 Strengths & Weaknesses

Answer 7

Strengths -

• Supported by evidence. Gesch found 35.1% reduction in disciplinary incidents after offenders’ diet was supplemented
• Gesch study was well controlled. Double-blind procedure minimised demand characteristics. Matched pairs design

Weaknesses -

• Hard to establish ‘cause and effect’ relationship. Also, commonly those from low socio-economic backgrounds have worse diets, so this could be a more important variable in causing violent behaviours
• Some criminal acts aren’t aggressive, and these could not be treated by diet