INTERPERSONAL SKILLS TRAINING - EVALUATION OF A PROGRAM WITH ADULT MALE OFFENDERS

• NCJ Number: 58818
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1979) Pages: 119-131
• Author(s): P H BORNSTEIN; J WINEGARDNER; R G RYCHTARIK; W P PAUL; S J NAIFEH; T M SWEENEY; A JUSTMAN
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AN INTERPERSONAL SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM IN TEACHING MALE OFFENDERS TO DEAL WITH CONFLICT SITUATIONS, THIS STUDY COMPARED TREATMENT GROUP BEHAVIOR CHANGE WITH THAT OF CONTROLS.

Abstract

THE 14 MEN STUDIED WERE INMATES IN MONTANA STATE PRISON. OF THESE, 7 PARTICIPATED IN AN INTERPERSONAL-EFFECTIVENESS TRAINING GROUP WHICH MET FOR 6 HOUR-LONG SESSIONS. DURING THAT TIME THE INMATES REHEARSED APPROPRIATE RESPONSES TO VARIOUS PROBLEM SITUATIONS, MANY OF WHICH WERE SUGGESTED BY THE INMATES THEMSELVES. THE OTHER 7 MEN WERE ON A WAITING LIST FOR TRAINING. AT THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF THE 6-WEEK PERIOD BOTH GROUPS TOOK THE PERSONALITY RESEARCH FORM, THE S-R INVENTORY OF ANXIOUSNESS, AND THE INTERPERSONAL BEHAVIOR ROLE-PLAY TEST. ALTHOUGH THE SCORES WERE SIMILAR FOR BOTH GROUPS BEFORE TRAINING, AFTER TRAINING THE TREATMENT GROUP HAD SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER SCORES ON THE INTERPERSONAL BEHAVIOR ROLE-PLAY TEST. THESE DIFFERENCES WERE ESPECIALLY HIGH FOR THE PORTIONS INVOLVING A JOB INTERVIEW, A CONTEST, AND AN AUTOMOBILE TRIP. THE TREATMENT GROUP ALSO SHOWED HIGHER HARM-AVOIDANCE SCORES AND BETTER IMPULSIVITY-CONTROL SCORES. THESE RESULTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER RESEARCH WHICH INDICATES THAT MANY AGGRESSIVE PERSONS REACT INAPPROPRIATELY TO CONFLICT SITUATIONS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW OTHER WAYS TO ACT. THIS STUDY INCLUDES EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY. (GLR)