Thesis
Psychopathy and RNR-informed treatment responsivity in corrections: a literature review and proposed alternatives
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jun 2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00001197
Abstract
This thesis reviews the literature on how current interventions used in corrections affect justice-involved individuals who are psychopathic, with the goal of proposing interventions that may be more beneficial. Psychopathy is a pattern of maladaptive personality functioning that has been linked to various adverse outcomes, including criminality, violence, and poor treatment response, with a significantly greater and more varied involvement in the criminal justice system. The Risk-Need-Responsivity model is a risk reduction model targeting a change in the factors that predict criminal behavior and is widely used to inform treatment in the criminal justice system based on the three core principles of risk, need and responsivity (Andrews et al., 1990). However, it has been found that justice-involved individuals who are psychopathic respond variably to RNR-informed treatment, with higher risk individuals in particular responding poorly to RNR-informed treatment and having recidivism rates similar to those who did not receive any intervention. Among offenders, those who are psychopathic are thought to be the highest risk, and have also been found to be resistant and unmotivated towards treatment. Accordingly, many view justice-involved individuals with psychopathy as untreatable. This suggests that other approaches to treatment should be explored. It has been found that for high risk individuals, significant change requires more intensive intervention. Another approach to treating offenders who are psychopathic could follow successful treatment guidelines for those with Antisocial Personality Disorder. There is also evidence that Modified Therapeutic Community treatment is associated with positive outcomes for those with ASPD, including a reduction in post prison discharge criminality.
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Details
- Title
- Psychopathy and RNR-informed treatment responsivity in corrections
- Creators
- Shannon Elizabeth Rosa
- Contributors
- Kirk Heilbrun (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- 49 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991018527107704721