Offender KW Research Articles

Workplace violence and workplace aggression: Evidence on their relative frequency and potential causes

Recent news reports have focused attention on dramatic instances of workplace violence-extreme acts of aggression in work settings. It is suggested here that such actions, while both tragic and frightening, are only a small part of a much larger problem of workplace aggression-efforts by individuals to harm others with whom they work or the organizations in which they are employed. The present study investigated two major hypotheses with respect to such aggression: 1) contrary to what media reports suggest, most aggression occurring in work settings is verbal, indirect, and passive rather than physical, direct, and active; 2) recent changes in many organizations (e.g., downsizing, increased workforce diversity) have generated conditions that may contribute to the occurrence of workplace aggression. A survey of 178 employed persons provided partial support for both predictions. Verbal and passive forms of aggression were rated as more frequent by participants than physical and active forms of aggression. In addition, the greater the extent to which several changes had occurred recently in participants' organizations, the greater the incidence of workplace aggression they reported. VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study by Baron and Neuman was to examine whether verbal, indirect, and passive forms of aggression are more common in work environments than physical, direct, and active forms of aggression. Additionally, the authors investigated whether changes that occur in work environments lead to increased workplace aggression. METHODOLOGY: A quasi-experimental, cross-sectional study was employed. The sample included 178 full-time workers (92 females and 86 males). These individuals worked for a wide range of organizations in both the public and private sector and had held their positions anywhere from less than one year to more than five years. They ranged in age from their twenties to their sixties. The participants were asked to complete a questionnaire dealing with workplace aggression. Forty items concerned perceived frequency of various forms of aggression. These forms of aggression were based on Buss' three dichotomies: physical-verbal, active-passive, and direct-indirect. For each, participants were asked to rate the extent to which they had witnessed and/or experienced each type of aggression from never to very often. The next thirteen questions asked participants to rate the extent to which the following changes had occurred in their workplace within the previous twelve months: downsizing, layoffs, budget cuts, technological change, increased diversity within the workforce, introduction of new affirmative action policies, use of computers to monitor employee-performance, change in management, restructuring, reengineering, pay cuts, increased use of part-time workers, and job sharing. The final section asked for demographic information such as gender, age, position, years with employers, and the size and nature of the organization. The authors hypothesized that covert forms of aggression (verbal, passive, and indirect) were more frequent in work environments than overt (physical, active, and direct) forms of aggression and that the greater the extent to which various changes have occurred in a work environment, the higher the incidence of aggression in that environment. Analysis included examination of frequencies and means as well as t-tests, correlations, and multiple regression. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: As hypothesized, the findings indicated for both witnessed and experienced aggression that verbal aggression was rated as significantly more frequent in occurrence than physical aggression (p In regards to changes in the workplace, certain changes occurred more frequently than others. Changes in management, organizational restructuring, and downsizing occurred most frequently, while changes in affirmative action and job sharing occurred least frequently. Several types of change were also significantly correlated with reported frequency of aggression. Increased diversity (p Finally, forward selection multiple aggression analyses revealed that increased use of part-time employees and changes in management were significant predictors of perception of witnessed aggression, while use of part-time employees, increased workplace diversity, and pay cuts or freezes were significant predictors of experienced aggression (p The authors concluded by stressing that the results offer partial support for both hypotheses and that although instances of actual workplace violence are important and have serious consequences, it is unwise to focus research attention solely upon them. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - Workplace Violence KW - Workplace Aggression KW - Aggression Causes KW - Violence Causes KW - Adult Violence KW - Adult Offender KW - Adult Perceptions KW - Adult Aggression KW - Aggression Incidence and Prevalence KW - Violence Incidence and Prevalence

Kids, guns, and killing fields

Kids, guns, and killing fields

Youth Gangs: A 1990s Perspective

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article by Cromwell et al. was to identify and discuss several issues affecting the formation of competent public policy and the implementation of effective gang intervention strategies in the 1990s. METHODOLOGY: The authors employed a non-experimental design in which information was collected from both past research in gang formation and regional statistics on gang activity. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: The authors began by outlining the scope of the problem of youth gang activity and the difficulty of gathering reliable and valid information regarding the extent, nature and seriousness of the gang problem. Moreover, almost every academic study as well as law enforcement agency report have utilized varying operational definitions of what constitutes a gang or gang-related incident. Tautological definitions of gang and gang member as well as gang activity have further confused the problem. Consequently, gang research and data on gang activity from different jurisdictions should be interpreted and compared with caution. The classical gang studies of the 1950s and 1960s are now outdated insofar as the nature, organization, motivation and activities of gangs have since changed. While the membership of gangs have historically been male with females playing marginal roles, the authors suggested that increased gang violence committed by female members indicates that gangs are no longer a male phenomenon. The membership of contemporary gangs have a wider of age and are also reporting older members. According to the authors, these findings suggest that gang members are no longer maturing out of gangs into legitimate occupations but rather establishing careers in criminal gang activity. The motivation towards joining a gang has also evolved. The authors found that where gangs of yesteryear fulfilled an expressive function for its membership, the motivation behind joining contemporary gangs is more instrumental. The authors cited early gang studies which argued that the identity, recognition, status, safety and security, power and excitement offered by gangs attracted members who were afflicted by the poverty and alienation of urban immigrant areas. Instrumental gangs, on the other hand, primarily satisfy economic concerns and many times don't display many of the standard features of the expressive gang (eg.,the use of symbols, rituals, oaths and names as well as territorialism). Contemporary gangs' activities range from low level street dealing to sophisticated, highly organized, and heavily armed networks for the distribution of cocaine (p. 29). To conclude, the authors found evidence which suggested that contemporary youth gangs might provide its younger members with the contacts and preparation for later criminal career efforts. AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS: The authors emphasized the need for reliable and valid data about gangs and gang activity in order to develop informed and effective public policy. Therefore law enforcement agencies, the media and citizens groups must come to an agreement on a standardized definition of gang and gang-related activity. Furthermore, traditional wisdom about the causes, structure and organization of gangs needs to be reevaluated such that it reflects the juvenile gang of the 1990s. EVALUATION: The authors present a thoughtful discussion of the changing nature of gang activity and the difficulties associated with evaluating gang research. They utilize both past and present research to formulate their arguments in an organized and well written paper. It would have been helpful, however, if the authors had addressed the changing ethnic makeup of gangs in order to establish a better understanding of the dynamics of gang involvement. Overall, the authors offer a valuable discussion of contemporary youth gangs with implications for both policy decisions and future research efforts. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - Public Policy KW - 1990s KW - Juvenile Crime KW - Juvenile Gang KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Juvenile Violence KW - Violence Intervention KW - Gang Violence KW - Gang Intervention KW - Intervention Recommendations KW - Research Recommendations KW - Policy Recommendations Language: en

Diet and crime: An empirical examination of the value of nutrition in the control and treatment of incarcerated juvenile offenders

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study by Schoenthaler was to investigate the relationship between sugar consumption and misbehavior among incarcerated juvenile offenders. METHODOLOGY: A quasi-experimental methodology was used for this study. 276 juveniles total were included in the study. The subjects consisted of male and female offenders between 12 and 18 years old who had been placed in the custody of a state administered juvenile detention home located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The facility usually holds 12-15 juveniles for a period of one month. Most typical offenses were alcohol and drug violations, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, larceny, and burglary. 25% were sent there for violent offenses. The subjects were incarcerated for more than a day between March 8, 1980 and March 8, 1982. A change in diet was instituted on March 8, 1981, thus creating two groups: 1) pre-reduced sugar and 2) post-reduced sugar. 102 juveniles fell into the first group, and 174 fell into the second. The changes in the diet of the children included such things as the replacement of the soda machine with a fruit juice machine, the elimination of high sugar desserts, serving of fruit juice and unsweetened iced tea instead of sweetened drinks, replacement of white sugar with other substitutes as molasses and honey, efforts to keep parents from sending high sugar snacks, and other direct manipulation of the diet. The dependent variable consisted of average number of disciplinary infractions per day spent in the facility. The personnel who were involved in bring up children on charges were not aware of the study, and the children were not told that they were participating in a study. They were told, instead, that the changes were due to health considerations. Age, race, gender, and type of past criminal behavior served as control variables. T-tests and chi-square were used to analyze the data. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: Overall, a 48% decrease (significant at AUTHOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS: The author argued that further research at other institutions should be carried out to test these findings on a broader scale. It was also recommended that nutritional counseling be included and that follow-up study of recidivism among offenders who had received this care be done. Study was also advocated that would isolate which features of the diet were successful. EVALUATION: The medical community has grappled with the effect of sugar on childrens' diets in several areas including hyperactivity for a long time. This study argues, along the same lines, that the reduction in sugar would decrease institutional misbehavior. The methodological approach that can isolate the introduction of the independent variable (diet) and which examines its effect independently of possible antecedent explanations is a strength for making claims that the reduction in sugar is a likely cause of the decrease in problem behavior. The weaknesses of this study were, generally, identified by the author: 1) lack of generalizability to other institutions and 2) inability to locate which factor(s) in the diet were the main factors. Additionally, a design which would more systematically and simultaneously enter the controls into a single equation would also be helpful. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - Virginia KW - Nutrition-Health KW - Diet KW - Sugar Consumption KW - Juvenile Inmate KW - Juvenile Delinquency KW - Delinquency Intervention KW - Incarcerated KW - Juvenile Correctional Institution KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Behavior Modification KW - Juvenile Antisocial Behavior KW - Inmate Antisocial Behavior

Treating adolescent sexual offenders.

Treating adolescent sexual offenders.

Poverty, Subculture of Violence, and Type of Homicide

Poverty, Subculture of Violence, and Type of Homicide

Adolescents and Violence

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article by Brunsletter et al. was to research the violence literature as well as assess the clinical significance of violence for individual patients and its treatment and management in a hospital atmosphere. METHODOLOGY: The authors followed a non-experimental design in which past research on adolescent violence was reviewed and clinical case studies of four violent adolescents were examined. The four adolescent patients were selected for discussion based on their participation in group violence. The discussion was presented in the form of a roundtable in which the three authors discussed different aspects of their study. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: Initially, the authors noted that given the backgrounds of most of their adolescent patients, it was surprising that violent behavior was not more common amongst them. Nonetheless, patients inflicted pain upon themselves and others. Yet it was an incident of group violence involving the four adolescents which led the authors to reexamine the treatment milieu. The authors described each of the patient case histories in order to determine common characteristics which might have led each to violence. Besides their all being male, some of the patients had neurological abnormalities, seizure disorders, and childhood head injuries. In addition, some of the patients had come from neglectful or abusive homes, had experienced the loss of a major object before the age of ten and was blamed for it, and finally, one of the patients was a heavy drug user. The authors discussed several antecedents to adolescent violence drawing on the backgrounds of the four sample youths. Early childhood traumas or losses were said to be precursors to later anger and its associated actions. The correlation between violence and gender was discussed but findings have been inconclusive. The authors also evaluated the somewhat more controversial association between temporal lobe epilepsy and excessive violence. Family violence as a predictor of later violence and delinquency was said to be consistently shown in the research. Finally, the authors emphasized the importance of discovering whether there was an abusive role model in a violent child's past in order to determine future behavior. Next, the authors discussed the therapeutic environment in which the adolescent patients were being treated. One of the five functions of the therapeutic environment was said to be containment (the others being support, structure, involvement and validation) of violence. The authors argued that patients sometimes get caught up in a conflict which isn't necessarily theirs because of an inability to differentiate their own personality structure. Traumatically overstimulating a patient with intense nurturing feelings was also said to increase the likelihood of violence in some situations. Likewise, violence in the units normally escalates from verbal violence to damage to property to physical assault on another person. The authors concluded by observing that hospital riots are often proceeded by periods of tension between staff and patients. AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS: In light of the authors' findings regarding the progression of violence from verbal violence to physical assault, the authors made several recommendations. First, unit staff skills should be developed such that they permit the early recognition of impending breakdowns and loss of control before the patient actually becomes violent. Staff training and expertise are therefore very important for effective intervention. The aim of violence intervention in a therapeutic environment should be not simply to control the patient but also to aid the adolescent in regaining and utilizing his/her own self-control. Various interventions were suggested from talking with the patient to using restraints or seclusion. Finally, the authors described a treatment strategy entitled dynamic homeostasis in which open communication between patients and staff is encouraged to produce an atmosphere of optimism and security. EVALUATION: The authors present an insightful discussion of precursors to adolescent aggression and the dynamics of violence in hospital therapeutic units. The presentation is both clearly written and well organized. Future research and intervention strategies would be well informed by the present study. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - Treatment Program KW - Violence Treatment KW - Mental Health Institution KW - Mental Health Treatment KW - Mental Illness KW - Juvenile Violence KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Offender Treatment KW - Group Violence KW - Offender Characteristics KW - Violence Causes KW - Case Studies KW - Male Offender KW - Male Violence KW - Juvenile Male KW - Hospital Violence

Incestuous victimization by Juvenile Sex offenders

Most research and clinical data dealing with child sexual abuse have focused on adult offenders (usually a parent or relative) and their child victims. More recently, however, the data are beginning to show that a sizeable number of these sexual encounters are being committed by juvenile offenders. Thus, parents and members of the helping professions are beginning to see that what had previously been labeled sexual experimentation may be more serious. Using 37 cases drawn from the files of a local Children and Family Service agency that met the study definition of a juvenile sexual offense, data are reported on the following variables: the age difference between the victim and the offender, the relationship between victim and offender, the act involved, the context in which the act occurred, the pattern of the sexual contact, problems the offender exhibited that may have resulted from the sexual encounter, and general demographic data about the offender's family. VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research conducted by Pierce and Pierce was to examine incestuous juvenile sexual offenders. METHODOLOGY: The authors used a quasi-experimental design to do an exploratory study of a purposive sample of 37 juvenile offenders. Juvenile sexual offenders were defined for this study as a child under 18, who engaged in sexual activities, including, fondling, attempted intercourse, vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, oral intercourse, and exposure with a relative or a person who was providing child care, or a person for whom child care was being provided. Protective service workers were provided with this definition and were asked to identify any case record that fit the definition. Data were gathered from reviewing open protective service records. The variables that this study looked at were age difference between victim and offender, how they were socially related, acts involved, context acts occurred in, pattern of sexual contacts, problems offenders were currently exhibiting, and information on offender's family of origin. The authors used descriptive statistics to explore the data. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: Ages of juveniles at the time of the last reported offense ranged from 4-16. While victims ranged in age from 3 years to adult. In 46 percent of the case at least one victim was at least 5 years younger than the offender. Victims that were at least 10 years younger occurred in 13 percent of the cases. 44 percent of the victims were male. Two thirds of the subjects had committed more than one sexual offense. 51 percent of the incidents were fondling which made it the most typical type of abuse. Oral intercourse was the second most common form making up 30 percent of the total incidents. Offenses took place in foster homes 46 percent of the time and in offenders own home 30 percent of the time. 50 percent of offenders engaged in some other form of delinquent behavior and 40 percent had academic problems. Only 3 juveniles had no records of being victims of abuse themselves. Subjects were physically abused in 62 percent of the cases. 43 percent were victims of sexual abuse. 70 percent had been neglected. 45 percent of mothers for whom information was available were described as emotionally ill and 19 percent were substance abusers. AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS: The authors recommend that since most offenders were victims themselves counseling and therapy should be used after the original victimization. This will help children deal with their emotions surrounding their victimization and may prevent them from becoming offenders. The family of the juvenile offender needs to be focused on also. The family needs help in becoming more functional. If the abuse of the offenders by their family could be prevented they will be less likely to offend. Case workers should draw up a summary sheet to record the description of patterns of sexual offenses, date of occurrences, and the disposition. This will enable an easier assessment of data and a more complete understanding of the situation. The authors recommend a balance of punishment and treatment, citing that many offenders are prosecuted without any treatment. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - Child Abuse Offender KW - Child Sexual Abuse Offender KW - Incest Offender KW - Juvenile Violence KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Sexual Assault Offender KW - Sibling Violence Offender KW - Sibling Incest KW - Domestic Violence Offender KW - Child Sexual Abuse Offender KW - Offender Characteristics KW - Offense Characteristics KW - Victim Offender Relations

Book Review: Processing the Information

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article by Prothrow-Stith et al. was to set forth the public health approach of the Violence Prevention Project, a program of the Health Promotion Program for Urban Youth in the Boston Department of Health and Hospitals. METHODOLOGY: A non-experimental design was used to describe the components of the Violence Prevention Project. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: The Violence Prevention Project is a community-based primary prevention program that initiates outreach and education in an effort to change attitudes and behavior to prevent juvenile violence. School-based curriculum, community agency involvement in teaching the curriculum, community networking and support, and media campaigns are the fundamental components of the Violence Prevention Project. AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS: The authors stated that violence intervention and prevention must be sensitive to community contexts and individual behavior within particular social contexts, and therefore, community involvement in planning, implementation, and evaluation is critical. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - Massachusetts KW - Public Health Approach KW - Curriculum KW - School Based KW - Urban School KW - Urban Youth KW - Juvenile Violence KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Community Based KW - Violence Prevention KW - Prevention Program KW - Program Description Language: en

Adolescent sex offenders.

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study by Davis and Leitenberg was to review the research literature up to the time of writing (1987), concerning sexual offenses committed by adolescents. METHODOLOGY: This author conducted a non-experimental study of the topic of adolescent sexual violence from the available literature, covering topics of statistical incidence; characteristics of offenders, offenses, and victims; and treatment and recidivism. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: There are many large gaps in the research which has been conducted on this topic, possibly from the lack of realization of the frequency of sexual offenses being perpetrated by adolescents. Consistent findings from the literature include: 1) Adolescents are responsible for a large part of the sexual offenses committed in the U.S., with the most conservative estimates being 20%. 2) Of these offenses, almost two-thirds have younger children as the victims, often relatives or acquaintances. 3) Victims are more often female than male, except in offenses on children with fewer females. 4) Almost all adolescent sex offenders are male (over 95%), and black males are more frequently offenders than the proportions in the general population, though this may be unrelated to race. 5) A history of being physically abused is found more frequently in adolescent sex offenders than in other male adolescents. 6) Past history of behavioral and school problems are often found in histories of adolescent sex offenders, although not more often than in other delinquent adolescents. 7) Adolescent sex offenders have a history of more consenting sexual experiences than other adolescents. 8) Recidivism in the early uncontrolled experimental treatment groups has been encouragingly low (under 10%). Research is still in an early stage (as of 1987). AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS: Studies need to be conducted with matched comparison groups, to determine what the forces are that motivate adolescents to commit sexual offenses. The variables to be compared include insecurity about masculinity, insecurity about sexual performance, fear of rejection, deficits in social skills, hostility to females, stereotyping of sex roles, atypical fantasies of masturbation, and fear of adult homosexuality. All sexual offenders should not be lumped together in studies, but should be separated by such variables as age-appropriate sexual relationships, whether offenders against female or male children, whether offenses are with children or adults, whether offense is exhibitionist or of another type, and whether exclusively a sex offender or not. Studies should also be done comparing various forms of treatment and no treatment, to show which parts have the greatest contribution to positive outcomes. Other variables besides recidivism need to be measured, such as family functioning, peer relations and appropriate sexual functioning. There needs to be evaluation of preventive programs, and research needs to be directed at the victims of these offenders. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Offender Characteristics KW - Offender Recidivism KW - Sexual Assault Offender KW - Sexual Assault Treatment KW - Literature Review KW - Offender Treatment KW - Juvenile Treatment KW - Juvenile Male KW - Male Offender KW - Male Violence KW - Juvenile Violence KW - Child Abuse Offender KW - Child Sexual Abuse Offender KW - Violence Against Women KW - Rape Offender

Television violence and aggression: The debate continues.

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study by Friedrich-Cofer and Huston was to provide a literature review and critique of the debate over the relationship between viewing violence on television and actual aggression and violence. This study supported the majority of the literature which claims that a relationship does exist and discussed the theoretical and social policy implications of this relationship. METHODOLOGY: This literature review was divided into two main areas of research: experimental studies (both laboratory and field studies) and correlational studies (primarily longitudinal studies). Within each of these areas, methodological issues were addressed, as well as results, trends and potential sources of bias. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: Laboratory studies have had high internal validity because of their random sampling techniques and their ability to manipulate the independent variables. However, three major questions were raised about their external validity: the degree to which the stimuli used reflected actual television programming; the degree to which their artificial settings lead to experimenters' influencing the subjects' responses; and the degree to which the measures of aggression in the laboratory actually mirror real aggression. This study refuted these questions by explaining that a content analysis of laboratory studies showed that most use actual television programming; that aggression seemed, in most studies, to increase when experimenters' left the room not when they remained; and that a variety of measures were used in studies for aggression, many of which reflected real-life situations. Field experiments were considered a good methodological choice because they utilize the random assignment and experimental manipulation of variables in a natural setting, increasing both internal and external validity. However, questions again were raised in the same three areas of stimuli, setting and measures of aggression: there has been the problem of finding control (nonviolent) stimuli which the subjects would voluntarily watch on a regular basis; most of the settings of field research have been within residential institutions for adolescents where often their television viewing is monitored or controlled, not voluntary; when measuring aggression, problems arose in distinguishing between serious and playful aggression, as well as distinguishing between aggression related to group dynamics (within a group home setting) and individual aggression. Correlational studies have been primarily very large and involving a diverse range of subjects in terms of race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. They have had high external validity but low internal validity. Longitudinal studies have allowed for analysis across time and have seemed to support a small but consistent positive relationship between violent behavior and violent television viewing. Problems with these studies, however, were pointed out such as the possibility of selection bias; bias caused by other variables not being statistically controlled; or self-reporting biases. This study pointed out, however, that most correlational studies have rigorously controlled for as many other variables as they could and have attempted to find as many alternative measures of aggression to self-reporting as possible. This study claimed that the literature overall supported a bi-directional model of relations between viewing television violence and aggressive behavior. In other words, there appeared to be both a tendency for violent television viewing to positively influence aggressive behavior and a tendency for violent behavior to positively influence the desire to watch violent television shows. AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS: The authors suggested that social scientists must acknowledge that the dialogue about violence on television must broaden to include a discussion on societal values. They also stressed the urgent need for connecting policy issues with theoretical and research issues. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - Television Viewing KW - Television Violence KW - Literature Review KW - Media Violence Effects KW - Aggression Causes KW - Violence Causes KW - Child Aggression KW - Child Offender KW - Child Violence KW - Juvenile Aggression KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Juvenile Violence KW - Exposure to Violence Language: en

The fine edge of violence.

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article by Lefer was to discuss and describe the psychiatric nature of violence including types of violent patients. Knowledge about dream patterns in the violence-prone was a central feature of this study. METHODOLOGY: A non-experimental, exploratory design was employed. The author combined pertinent literature and his own clinical experience with and case study examples of violent clients to describe types of violent persons and possible causes for violence. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: Review of the literature revealed the following indicators as being possible predictors of adult violence. In children, aggressive temper tantrums, aloneness, and truancy were found to be strong. Families with absent or cruel fathers and/or demeaning mothers in one study were found to create an environment in which children became depressed and expressed other altered reactions. Another study stated that homes in which parents show no love and do show violence will produce children who may later become violent. Humiliation and a sense of powerlessness were also reported by violent offenders. Members of a violent youth gang were found to show verbal and abstract limitations and were exposed to violence, seen as a way of life, at an early age. Dreams of the youth in this study were found to have violent dreams which offered a sense of achievement, contained much anxiety, and displayed some symptoms of classical traumatic neuroses. Acceptance and power were main goals. The study reported that dehumanization of others was critical in the ability to commit violence. Absence of human bonds was also stated as a factor in the enabling of a person to commit violence; violence becomes a means to become important, even in a negative way, to another. Others found that violence was used as a defense against facing conflicts and other unpleasant emotional feelings--a stage of a serious disturbance between neurosis and psychosis. Unable to develop relationships, the a highly emotional appetite is created which can only be satisfied with powerful psychological sensations. To Freudians, violence is the result of a weak superego and an uncontrolled id; violence becomes a catharsis. A typology of personality profiles of the violence prone person was created. Dimensions were strength of repression, suppression, inhibition, reaction formation, rationalization, and conscience. These types were: l) the person who uses violence as a means to an end without inhibition or need for justification, 2) the person who uses violence as a means to an end but must justify it, 3) the person who can only be violent in a drugged or dissociated state, and 4) the person who becomes symbiotic with persons who are prone to use violence as a means to an end and, being in a position of power, aids the other to commit violence. The latter two categories of patients were more likely than those who use violence as a means to an end to have dreams in which they were observers of violence rather than perpetrators of it. Overall patterns of feeling attacked, paranoia, and the striking out against someone who either must be punished for the agony of the perpetrator's childhood or taken out before the perpetrator is hurt--physically or emotionally. AUTHOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS: The author recommended that the younger population be targeted to deal with the growing number of violence-prone individuals. Specific areas would be feelings of alienation, lack of importance when violence is not used, helplessness, and depression. Dreams of youth are advocated as a beginning point for study and treatment. EVALUATION: This study reports findings in what could be a very important area in the psychiatric study of violence--dreams. If dreams are part of the subconscious, it would be helpful to be able to identify issues that the patient cannot consciously vocalize. As an exploratory piece, this article lays out some issues for the psychiatric community to think about. It would have been helpful to more clearly delineate the argument and present more data from cases rather than other literature. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - Adult Offender KW - Adult Violence KW - Violence Predictors KW - Childhood Predictors KW - Adult Mental Health KW - Psychological Factors KW - Violence Causes KW - Offender Characteristics KW - Sleep Patterns Language: en

SELECTING DELINQUENTS FOR CAUTIONING IN THE LONDON METROPOLITAN AREA

SELECTING DELINQUENTS FOR CAUTIONING IN THE LONDON METROPOLITAN AREA

Violent youth: The impact of mental health treatment

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article by Hartstone and Cocozza was to examine the impact of the Court Related Unit (CRU) pilot program on the post-release experiences of its youths. CRU was established as a joint effort between the New York Department of Mental Hygiene, and the New York State Division for Youth for the treatment of violent and mentally disordered juveniles. METHODOLOGY: This study was a quasi-experimental design, using an exclusive population of youths eligible for and treated at the CRU. To be eligible for this program the youths had to have committed a violent offense which included either a 1st or 2nd degree act of Murder, Man-slaughter, Rape, Sodomy, Arson, Robbery or Kidnapping. Others could be admitted if they were officially adjudicated a delinquent and displayed a pattern of violence against the person. The experimental group included youths treated in the CRU program. The comparison group was eligible for the program, but upon further evaluation, (levels of violence and mental illness), this groups members were not accepted into the CRU program. The experimental and comparison groups matched on average age at 15.5 years, 75% were black or hispanic, and 78% did not live with both natural parents. There were major differences noted between the two groups. Comparison group subjects were four times as likely to have no prior court records and twice as likely to have no prior judgements. Where as the CRU youths were more likely to have a prior petition for violent offenses, and were three times as likely to be diagnosed as psychotic. Other differences were pointed out in the study. The authors cautioned that these two groups were similar, but that the comparison group was not a control group. Data was collected using official records and follow-up interviews for all youths released by CRU before April 30, 1979 (n=34). The same procedure was used for the subjects of the comparison group (n=42). Follow-up interviews focused on social and psychological adjustment and the youths assessment of their prior treatment. The youths were ask questions which included their own assessment of their ability to integrate with the community and their family, their feelings of being stigmatized, and any indications of abnormal behavior. Only 24 of 34 CRU youths and 27 of 42 comparison youths participated. Additional arrest and incarceration rate information was collected from official state and city agencies. Analysis included comparisons of percentages and sample means in the areas of placement, duration, adjustment and recidivism. Because this study included the whole population of youths at the CRU as well as those eligible for entrance, the authors did not feel it necessary to use tests of significance when comparing these groups. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: Even though the sample was small, evidence suggested that the program had a positive impact on the CRU youths. The CRU youths had more serious histories than the comparison group, yet the CRU group managed better upon returning to the community. The CRU youths had fewer arrests, and when they were arrested it was under less violent circumstances than the comparison group. The CRU youths also felt less stigmatized, had higher self-esteem, and had better family relations than the comparison group. The authors caution that the differences seen were not always great, but given the differences in the two group's histories, even the slight improvement of the CRU groups recovery rates over the comparison groups was a strong indicator that the program was more successful than other alternative programs. AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS: The authors wanted to make it clear that their findings were not an answer to the problems of juvenile violence. They reminded the reader that their study is only one case study, and that cost effectiveness should be considered when implementing a program such as CRU. Additionally, the authors stated that this type of program is only a small part of the bigger picture on the continuum of care that needs to be available when treating troubled youths. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - New York KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Juvenile Violence KW - Juvenile Treatment KW - Juvenile Mental Health KW - Mental Health Treatment KW - Treatment Effectiveness Evaluation KW - Treatment Program KW - Program Effectiveness KW - Program Evaluation KW - Offender Treatment KW - Community Reintegration KW - Violence Intervention KW - Intervention Program KW - Violence Treatment Language: en

Violence in America: Violent People and Violent Offenders

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper by Scott was to explore a number of issues surrounding violence in the United States, by examining violent offenders and violent situations in society. METHODOLOGY: This paper represented a non-experimental exploratory examination of the types of violence in American society. The author examined violence directed toward children, violence between children, adolescent and young adult violence, violence among the mentally ill, violence as revenge, family violence, violence in public areas and violent male offenders. The author concluded with an investigation of some of the treatment methods that have been employed in the search for an effective tool of prevention. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: The author began by noting the consistent findings that violent crime is primarily a phenomenon found in large cities, and that it is usually committed by young males. Children are often the victims of violence within the family, with more than 16,000 dying each year from abuse and neglect. Children are battered because they are unwanted, or when a divorced parent remarries someone who is not interested in the child, or as a result of parents abusing alcohol or drugs. Children who come from homes where they experienced poor socialization could become bullies in the school context, by manipulating and controlling social situations. Passage into adolescence often involves an increase in levels of assertiveness and aggression, with an interest in power and territory. Groups form and the threat of violence becomes an ever-present possibility, both in social situations outside the school, as well as within the school context. This type of violence often begins in the home during the younger years, and continues as a pattern into the early stages of adulthood. At this part of life, the exciting and unpredictable tavern becomes the central theme, where life is played out as if upon a stage. Violence is also reported to be on the rise amongst the institutionalized mentally ill. This is perhaps due to the fact that many mentally ill harbor an old hatred that has yet to be resolved, such as abuse as a child, that can lead to violence that is triggered by some unrelated and insignificant event. People may also feel the desire for revenge for an event in their past, but through group support they can begin to get a better view of their problems. About 70% of murders typically are committed by someone known to the victim, and most of these occur within the victim's home. This type of violence is often caused by psychological motivations, when one's ego has been damaged. Some estimates suggest that as many as 50% of American families have experienced some form of household violence. Laws have been so cumbersome and have avoided entering the domain of the sacred home that many cases of household violence have not been effectively handled. Violence is also common in public areas - on the streets and in the subways - with the primary target being the elderly, and the usual assailant being a younger male. The violent male felon acts according to different rules - he will kill when engaged in a fight. The author saw the intent to kill as a learned behavior, which must be unlearned via a process of resocialization to learn new values and to find a place within a new environment. When examining issues of treatment, the author noted that most offenders are against enforced theory on theoretical grounds, but would accept the notion of enforced therapy if it was conducted by a qualified professional for a violent criminal. Treatment should not, according to the author, be confined to the typical stereotypes of analysis, but should involve the use of clear judgement and wisdom to choose the most appropriate methods of rehabilitation. EVALUATION: This paper presents an informative look at the different types of violence that exist within contemporary society. However, the author provides little empirical evidence for his claims, and does not fully explain his assertions. No alternative explanations are offered for the various types of behaviors, and sweeping generalizations are made about the nature of each type of violent situation. Whilst this report does serve to add to the plethora of literature in the area of violence, it does little to advance scientific knowledge about the causes, nature and consequences of violent behavior. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - Child Abuse KW - Emotional Abuse and Neglect KW - Domestic Violence KW - Juvenile Violence KW - Male Offender KW - Mental Illness KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Violence Situations KW - Treatment KW - Violence Prevention KW - Violence Causes KW - Urbanization KW - Adult Offender KW - Public Environment

Ingredients of Juvenile Murder

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article by Russell was to describe some of the basic elements common to juvenile murderers, with the intent of better understanding their character structures and the circumstances leading to their violence. METHODOLOGY: The author employed a non-experimental design by describing the characteristics of 24 juvenile males who had committed murder and were then tracked and studied by the author for 15 years. Their ages at the time of the initial investigation ranged from 14 to 17, most had killed people they knew, 13 were diagnosed as neurotic, 3 as antisocial, 5 as schizoid, 2 as severely narcissistic, and 2 as psychotic. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: In at least 19 of these cases the author identified a common set of characteristics and a similar sequence of events which led to their violence: 1) A lack of socialization based on an unhealthy maternal relationship of strong ambivalence. The development in adolescence was therefore marked by severe unresolved conflicts over aggression and passivity. 2) A struggle for identity and self-expression, against strong regressive forces. 3) An intensification of this struggle through the mother's ongoing and relentless control, combined with a lack of support from the father. 4) An escalation of conflict and provocation which could not be countered by the minimal coping skills developed in such a stagnating environment. Immersed in complete self-involvement, the boys attempted to attribute their unacceptable feelings to someone else. 6) Finally, the development of a hostile fixation on the mother or another close figure, combined with increased paranoia, until the build-up became a break-through of the paranoid projection; at this point the murderous impulses resulted in acts that appeared justifiable to the boys. The author described 5 cases of the 19 to demonstrate his point. In each of these cases the ambivalent and controlling relationships of the mothers was very apparent, indicating that the boys had been pushed into dependent and submissive positions in relation to life in general, as well as in relation to their mothers. The confused sense of self which emerged from these circumstances led to great difficulty relating to other people, and ultimately to the final paranoid, self-justified recourse. In a few of the cases the author noted that although warning signs were made fairly clear through prior psychiatric evaluation, the families chose to disregard these warnings. However, the majority did not demonstrate obvious warnings as they continued to repress their inner turmoil and displayed an exterior of compliancy. This made diagnosis of the problem extremely difficult and denial among the families fairly easy. AUTHOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS: Because the closed, covert and highly protected relationships between these mothers and their sons made diagnosis extremely difficult, the author recommended a continued evaluation of the warning signs in such cases that they might be more effectively diagnosed. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - Juvenile Homicide KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Juvenile Violence KW - Homicide Causes KW - Homicide Offender KW - Offender Characteristics KW - Violence Causes KW - Juvenile Development KW - Youth Development Language: en

A thirty-year follow-up of treatment effects.

A thirty-year follow-up of treatment effects.

The Adolescent Sexual Offender and His Prey

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper by Groth was to present an investigation of the juvenile sexual offender and his victim. METHODOLOGY: The author employed a quasi-experimental study design with a non-probability sample of referrals to a forensic mental health facility in Massachusetts during the years 1970 through 1975. During this time, 26 offenders, convicted of rape or child assault, between the ages of 15 and 17 were referred to the Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sexually Dangerous Persons for evaluation. Also evaluated at the Center were 37 adults with a history of rape or child assault. The overall sample of 63 was divided into three groups based upon the age of the victim relative to the offender - those whose victims were the same age, those whose victims were significantly older and those whose were significantly younger. Older was defined as an adult victim at least ten years older than the offender, whilst younger was considered as a pre-adolescent victim who was at least five years younger than the subject. Offenders who assaulted same age or older people were considered rapists; those whose victims were younger were labelled as child molesters. Clinical interviews and examination of case material led to the collection of descriptive data about each offender and his victim. Analysis involved examination of frequencies. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: The typical adolescent sexual offender was found to be a white boy of almost 16 years of age, with average intelligence. The attack was generally performed alone, with the victim primarily being a white girl who was a year younger. The author found that the likelihood of the two parties knowing each other was the same as if they were strangers, although the attack was twice as likely to occur indoors than out, and usually in the victim's home. A weapon was present in one-third of the offenses, with drugs or alcohol not playing a major role in the incident. The offender was not a first-time assailant in three-quarters of the cases - 47 of the subjects had a known history of sexual assault. Rapists were older and scored higher on IQ tests than child molesters, with more interracial assaults of strangers and more frequent use of weapons. Child molesters were younger and had more male victims, usually with whom they were acquainted, with less frequent attempts at sexual penetration and little use of alcohol or drugs in relation to the offense. Assaults on older victims were more often interracial, and were more likely to have been committed by black offenders in the victim's home, with more violence and greater use of weapons and alcohol or drugs. Peer-age incidents were more likely to involve gang rape of males who were known to the offender, and were more likely to occur outside. Victim choice and method of assault remained consistent for the subjects over time, with many incidents being unknown to authorities. Adolescent offenders were similar to adult offenders in the sexual expression of anger and power that was involved in the offenses. Adolescent rapists and aggressive child molesters were also similar to adults in psychosocial characteristics, being loners without interpersonal or social skills, who were underachievers and who felt empty and frustrated. The non-aggressive child molester, however, was generally more passive and used psychological and social pressure to induce a child into sexual activity. The author saw sexual assault as a developmental defect in a boy who could not otherwise achieve his image of the masculine male, and who turned to sexual assault as a means of gaining self-identity. AUTHOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS: The author suggested that sexual offenses be seen as symptoms of emotional problems, with offenders requiring psychological assessment and security treatment facilities. EVALUATION: The author presents an informative examination of the profile of sexual assault offenders. However, the small sample and the lack of discussion about the measures used to assess such variables as psychological state preclude much generalizability. A more thorough discussion about the implications of the findings would have been helpful, as would have a more detailed examination of the similarities and differences between adolescent and adult offenders - issues concerning what makes juvenile offenders a special problem. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - Massachusetts KW - Child Sexual Abuse Offender KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Juvenile Male KW - Male Offender KW - Male Violence KW - Late Adolescence KW - Offender Characteristics KW - Rape Offender KW - Sexual Assault Offender KW - Child Molester KW - Child Abuse Offender KW - Juvenile Violence KW - Offender Typology KW - Violence Against Women Language: en

Television Violence and Violent Behavior

Television Violence and Violent Behavior

Violent Crime Indices Among Community-Retained Delinquents

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The goal of this article by Andrew was to describe the use of a Violence Index in the study of the extent and degree of violent crime. This index was argued to be a useful tool in evaluation. METHODOLOGY: A quasi-experimental method was employed to study 172 delinquents who were affiliated with the California Subsidy Program. Two studies were performed. Study I examined 116 referrals for psychological evaluation within the program between January 1971 and March 1973. Study II examined 56 referrals within the program between April and November 1973. Cases were excluded when there was incomplete data and, in one case, when the crime was reduced by the court to a non-crime. The mean age of all the youth was 17.78 years. The youth were probationers, assigned to the intensive supervision of this program for difficult probationers in the community, and additionally had to be part of the troublesome subgroup of the probationer population. Data were collected from their psychological case files. The Violence Scale was developed in the following way. Four professionals (two probation staff and two clinical psychologists, including the author) involved with delinquency ranked a list of each subject's most serious crime in Study I. These rankings were averaged, and a new rank was assigned to each crime. For Study II, the same four professionals took the table derived from Study I and inserted 9 new crimes that were averaged between them. Scores on the scale ranged from very non-serious (smoking) to very serious (voluntary manslaughter). The hypotheses being tested were 1) males would have higher violence scores, 2) non-Anglos would have higher violence scores, and 3) there would be no differences between the two time periods. ANOVA was used to analyze the data. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: Males were found to be significantly more violent in Study I (p AUTHOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS: The author concluded that the payoff/risk for keeping the violent delinquent in the community could be improved with improved prognosticating ability. It was also argued that the violence scale could serve as a prototype for future testing; an improvement would be to make the scale a ratio scale rather than an ordinal one. Another improvement, the author suggested, would be the association of psychodiagnostic indices with the degree of violence and identification of inhibition and prevention variables included. Creation of a pre-violence scale was also advocated. EVALUATION: It is a common fact that prior offending best predicts future offending. This article takes this one step further and creates a measurement of the seriousness of this prior offending. Seriousness of crime measures have been around for many years, but at this time (1974), it is very likely that this study's attempt was one of the pioneers. The sample size, while large enough to support the statistics used, is questionable when it comes to generalizability. The data were taken from a specific program in California; more broad-based study would need to be done to make statements about the violent juvenile population in general. The age of the data should also signify caution. Internal validity issues arise in this study in the following areas: 1) clinical files as a data source would contain an unspecifiable variation in its information given many different professionals write these files, and 2) the use of four persons to create the seriousness measure raises caution about the amount of variation that was encountered and how accurate the measure was. The conclusions about the insignificant increase in female seriousness over the time periods are not supported with literature or other data. In fact, the liberation argument has not been supported by data since its emergence in the early 70's. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) N1 - Call Number: F-461, AB-461 KW - 1970s KW - California KW - Survey Instrument KW - Juvenile Violence KW - Juvenile Delinquency KW - Juvenile Crime KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Offender Assessment KW - Delinquency Assessment KW - Delinquency Prediction KW - Crime Assessment KW - Crime Prediction KW - Violence Assessment KW - Violence Prediction Language: en