Developing a self-report measure to assess disclosure strategies in adult male prisoners and its association with personality

Purpose – The current study aims to report on the development of a self-report measure of disclosure strategies in adult male prisoners (violent and acquisitive offences) and its association with personality and self-esteem. Design/methodology/approach – The study employed an adapted version of the Delphi technique to develop initial items for inclusion in the new disclosure measure (Disclosure Management Questionnaire: DMQ). This element of the study utilised an “expert sample” of forensic psychologists. A total of 94 prisoners then completed the developed measure. Factor analysis was utilised to explore the structure of the measure, which subsequently allowed associations between disclosure strategies, personality and self-esteem to be identified. Findings – Analysis revealed a measure of disclosure (the DMQ) comprising four subscales: Exploratory Engagement, Placatory/Evasive Engagement, Passive Resistance and Active Resistance. Significant correlations were identified between the personality trait Neuroticism and higher levels of Placatory/Evasive Engagement and Active Resistance of forensic clients during the disclosure process. Self-esteem was also found to correlate with disclosure, in that high trait self-esteem was found to be associated with higher exploratory engagement, whereas low trait self-esteem was associated with higher levels of active resistance of the disclosure process. Originality/value – Developing an understanding of the nature and function of disclosure and how these relate to individual factors such as personality (including trait self-esteem) provides valuable knowledge and alternative ways of supporting forensic clients in discussing difficult issues related to their offending

The Knowledge They Possess: Elementary Teachers\u27 Expertise and Where It Becomes Usable Knowledge in the MA Education System

ABSTRACT The Knowledge They Possess: Elementary Teachers’ Expertise and Where It Becomes Usable Knowledge in the Massachusetts Education System February 15, 2018 By Helen-Ann Ireland BA University of New Hampshire MEd Antioch University EdD University of Massachusetts Amherst (pending) Dr. Sharon Rallis, Dissertation Chair Elementary teachers are facing a dilemma. They are expected to uphold the Massachusetts (MA) state mandate and deliver Common Core State Standards (CCSS), use the programs their school has adopted aligned with CCSS and meet the various cognitive and behavioral needs of their students. Sometimes the teachers experience competing commitments between meeting standards, using programs, pacing, scripted curricula, and meeting the immediate needs of their students. How they navigate this dilemma when it occurs and where the classroom teacher’s knowledge become usable knowledge in the MA education system are the two foci of this study. Using Senge’s model of learning organizations and applying it to the MA education system will shed some light on how five elementary teachers use their professional knowledge and autonomy in their classrooms

Examining the functions of prison critical incidents: a preliminary qualitative analysis of public reporting

Purpose: The current study explored the function of crisis incidents in prisons within the UK and US. The incidents reviewed included riots and hostage-incidents, focusing only on information that was available publically. It did not intend to capture official reports not in the public domain. Design/methodology/approach: Publically available information on incidents were systematically reviewed. Functional assessment and grounded theory were employed to examine background factors, triggers and maintaining factors. Twenty-five crisis incidents were analysed (UK = 10 and US = 15) from the past 30 years. It was predicted that crisis incidents would be motivated by negative and positive reinforcement, with negative more evidenced than positive. Precipitating factors (i.e. triggers) were predicted to include negative emotions, such as frustration and anger. Findings: Similarities in triggers and background factors were noted between hostage taking and riot incidents. Positive reinforcement was primarily indicated. Riots appeared driven by a need to communicate, to secure power, rights, control and/or freedom whereas for hostage taking these functions extended to capture the removal of negative emotions, to inflict pain, to punish/gain revenge, to effect a release, to manage boredom, and to promote positive emotions. Research limitations/implications: The study is preliminary and focused on the reporting of incidents in publically available sources; consequently, the data is secondary in nature and further limited by sample size. Nevertheless, it highlights evidence for similarities between types of crisis incidents but also some important potential differences. The need to understand the protective factors preventing incidents and minimising harm during incidents is recommended. Originality/value: This is an under-researched area. The study contributes to the field not only by focusing on providing a detailed analysis of an under-used source (public reporting) but by also identifying where gaps in research remain. The results demonstrate the value in understanding incidents through their motivation, particularly in distinguishing between negative and positive reinforcement

Attitudes towards prisoner-to-prisoner bullying and the association with prison environments: Examining the components.

Purpose: The research aims to examine attitudes towards prisoner-to-prisoner bullying, further considering the association between attitudes and characteristics of the prison environment thought to promote prisoner bullying. Methodology: Questionnaires were administered to 423 adult male prisoners and 195 correctional officers from three prisons in Canada. Participants completed the Prison Bullying Scale (PBS) and the Prison Environmental Scale (PES). Findings: Convergence in attitudes between prisoners and officers were noted although staff were more likely to consider bullies to be skilled, whereas prisoners were more likely than officers to feel that victims of bullying should be supported. Associations between attitudes supportive of bullying and environmental characteristics likely to promote prison bullying were found primarily among prisoners; the strongest predictors of such attitudes were poor relationships (e.g. prisoner to officer; prisoner to prisoner). Research implications: The study highlights the importance of the social aspect of the prison environment. It further provides an outline of two measures that could have utility in evaluating interventions designed to reduce prisoner-to-prisoner bullying. Originality/value: The study is the first to examine attitudes in a combined sample of prisoners and officers and focuses on the role of the wider prison environment. It also utilises a sample from three prisons as opposed to focusing on a single establishment

Females who sexually offend

Current academic understanding regarding females who commit harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) is at a distinct disadvantage when compared to male offenders. Female sex offending is both under-reported and poorly understood. Limited research is available and most continues to be descriptive, focusing on offender and offence characteristics. This brief review paper aims to capture some of the current thinking in this important area of study, aiming to summarise some of the recent literature and making suggestions about how best to consider this population based on the limited knowledge base available. It does not aim to present a detailed review, just a ‘spotlight’ on some of the emerging themes and considerations likely important for HSB in females

Psychological trauma in professionals working with traumatised children

STRUCTURED ABSTRACT: Purpose of this paper: Clinical professionals working with psychologically traumatised children in the care system can experience potential challenges maintaining their own positive psychological health, and when repeatedly being exposed to the traumatic histories of those in their care. The aim of this paper is to increase understanding of vicarious trauma and provide a guide for focusing future research. Design/methodology/approach: This is a systematic literature review, considering 13 articles that met the criteria and identified five main themes linked to secondary traumatic stress/vicarious trauma in staff. Findings: 5 main themes were noted. These are: Lack of organisational support; Lack of health work-life balance; Lack of appropriate training; Failure to use self-care techniques; and staff failure to share when they are experiencing symptoms. Practical implications: Various implications are noted from this review. These include the importance of education and support for staff, to be mindful that newer staff may be considered an ‘at risk’ group for the negative impact of such trauma, and to encourage staff in achieving an effective work-life balance. What is original/value of paper: This is a focused systematic review on secondary and vicarious trauma on staff working with children exposed to psychological trauma, such as sexual and physical abuse

Initial development of the Psychopathic Processing and Personality Assessment (PAPA) across populations

Three studies describe development of the Psychopathic Processing and Personality Assessment (PAPA). Study one outlines a literature review and Expert Delphi (n = 32) to develop the initial PAPA. Study two validates the PAPA with 431 participants (121 male prisoners and 310 university students: 154 men, 156 women), also using the Levenson Self Report Psychopathy scale and a measure of cognitive schema and affect. Study three refined the PAPA, employing it with 50 male students and 40 male forensic psychiatric patients using clinical (interview) assessments of psychopathy: the Psychopathy Checklist – Screening Version and the Affect, Cognitive and Lifestyle assessment. The PAPA comprised four factors; dissocial tendencies; emotional detachment; disregard for others; and lack of sensitivity to emotion. It positively correlated with existing psychopathy measures. Variations across PAPA subscales were noted across samples when associated with clinical measures of psychopathy. Support for the validity of the PAPA was indicated across samples. Directions for research and application are outlined

Thinking Minds - a cognitive skills intervention: A preliminary study capturing treatment effects with forensic psychiatric patients.

Presented is a preliminary study into the effectiveness of a cognitive skills programme, Thinking Minds, conducted with an adult male forensic psychiatric population (n = 27; 18 treatment, nine waiting list controls). It also addresses the approach to evaluating treatment effectiveness by capturing both group and individual effects. All participants were given a series of measures, to assess domains where treatment effect was thought likely to occur. This included impulsivity, coping, emotional control and self-esteem. It was predicted the treatment group would evidence positive change following the intervention, with no change in waiting list controls. Results indicated partial acceptance of the group effect prediction, with the waiting list control demonstrating no group change across time and the treatment group demonstrating improvement in rational and detached coping and in the social component of self-esteem. The individual change results demonstrated a mixed picture. It confirmed improvement in adaptive coping and social self-esteem for the treatment group but widened positive effects to cover aggression control. It also indicated evidence of deterioration on outcome measures. Deterioration was noted across all measures for the control group, suggesting that a degree of deterioration may be a naturally occurring process on self-report measures, regardless of intervention. This is an issue that future evaluations need to reflect on and accommodate. Results are discussed with regards to how the findings can begin to influence our approach to treatment evaluation

Initial development of an implicit and explicit approach to assess psychopathy

Four studies outline the ACL (Affective, Cognitive and Lifestyle) assessment, a new means of assessing psychopathy capturing implicit and explicit functioning. Studies 1 and 2 comprised students (study 1, n = 42, 14 men, 28 women; study 2, n = 50 men), Study 3 comprised 80 young male prisoners and Study 4, 40 male forensic psychiatric patients. It was predicted that the ACL affective, cognitive and interpersonal components would positively correlate with the interpersonal factor of another measure of psychopathy (PCL-SV), whereas the ACL lifestyle component would correlate with the criminal history/lifestyle component of the PCL-SV. Evidence for internal reliability for the ACL was noted. The ACL correlated as expected with the PCL-SV although variation across samples was noted. Implicit affect and specific aspects of cognition positively correlated with increased psychopathy on the PCL-SV. Implicit affect correlated differently across samples. Findings are discussed regarding implications. Directions for future research are indicated

Evaluation of a cognitive skills programme for male prisoners – exploring treatment effectiveness

Aim: The current study provides an evaluation of a cognitive skills programme (Enhanced Thinking Skills) with adult prisoners. Method: A pre and post treatment-only design with 171 male prisoners, using self-report psychometric measures. Results: Significant differences were found in the direction expected. Clinical recovery using stringent methods was not indicated, although improvement/partial response was across a number of domains. Originality: This study represents the first prison study to distinguish between levels of positive change. It questions previous interpretations of treatment outcome. Implications for practice: Expectations for treatment outcome for short term interventions should be more realistic; Cognitive skills programmes may be best considered as precursors to longer term therapies; Treatment outcome should focus on improvement and not recovery