The association of compassion and positive psychology among people who offend: a scoping review of the literature

Abstract

PurposeGlobal recidivism rates remain high, with re-offending being a common issue. Traditional offender rehabilitation programmes often rely on the risk-need-responsivity model and cognitive behavioural therapy. However, the emergence of positive psychology and strengths-based approaches, such as the good lives model and desistance-based approaches, have started to challenge this dominant model, offering alternatives for reducing re-offending. Despite growing interest, the literature on positive psychology and compassion-based approaches in offender rehabilitation is still limited. This paper aims to explore the existing literature and assess its impact on offender populations.Design/methodology/approachA scoping review was conducted, which initially identified 925 articles. After removing duplicates and applying eligibility criteria, 46 articles were included in the final analysis.FindingsFour key themes emerged: the effects of compassion and positive psychology on emotions and traits, the role of relationships and identity, the connection between compassion and desistance, and the protective role of strengths in personal growth and reducing offending. The review underscores the potential benefits of integrating compassion and positive psychology into offender rehabilitation. However, the existing research is sparse, and further studies, such as randomised controlled trials or longitudinal research, are necessary to establish the long-term effects of these interventions on recidivism. Incorporating these approaches could signal a paradigm shift towards a more holistic, human-centred approach to offender rehabilitation.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first review to explore both compassion and positive psychology-based interventions among people who offend