Victim empathy-based content in aggression treatment: exploring impact within a secure forensic hospital

Purpose This study aims to explore the impact of inclusion of victim empathy-based content in offender treatment. Design/methodology/approach This study first presents a systematic review of 20 papers before proceeding to consider qualitative interviews with therapists (n = 7) and forensic patients (n = 5), who had completed a long-term violence therapy (Life Minus Violence – Enhanced, LMV-E©). The research explored perceptions of forensic patients and treatment facilitators when completing victim empathy work and explored any negative effects this may have. Findings Findings from the systematic review indicated five themes: interventions incorporating victim empathy can be effective; there are positive risk-understanding consequences from completing victim empathy work; offenders perceive victim empathy positively; the emotional impact of victim empathy work on offenders’ is poorly explored; and completing victim empathy in treatment groups receives mixed evaluations from offenders. The systematic review was used to inform the interview themes for the resulting qualitative study with facilitators and forensic patients. This study indicated six themes: victim empathy content facilitates change; victim empathy content can be difficult for patients; victim empathy content can lead to an emotional response; victim empathy content can be beneficial, with the process important; victim empathy content can help understand risk, and patients’ experience of treatment begins before attending sessions. Practical implications The potential impact of victim empathy content needs to be evaluated before sessions are completed, accounting for client expectations and treatment readiness. This should include ensuring that appropriate support is in place. Any support provided to patients should be regularly reviewed. Originality/value The study represents the first to apply detailed analysis to this topic area and with a complex group.

Situational and Dispositional Factors in Rape Cognitions: The Roles of Social Media and the Dark Triad Traits

Previous research has established the importance of socially aversive personality traits (i.e., the Dark Triad) in rape cognitions (operationalized here as rape-supportive attitudes, rape victim empathy, and hostile masculinity). However, less is known about how sexist social media content influences attitudes toward rape cognitions depending on the personality of the individual. In an online experiment, after completing the Short Dark Triad-3 questionnaire, participants ( N = 180) were primed with either sexist or neutral tweets, rating them for acceptability, humor, rudeness, and ignorance. Participants then completed scales for rape-supportive attitudes, victim empathy, and hostile masculinity. Sexist tweets were rated as significantly less acceptable and humorous, and more rude and ignorant than neutral tweets. However, those high in the Dark Triad found the sexist tweets as funny and acceptable. Overall, exposure to the sexist tweets did not increase rape cognitions. Moreover, the Dark Triad traits had similar significant, positive correlations with rape-supportive attitudes, victim blame, and hostile masculinity in both sexist and neutral tweet conditions. Multiple regression analyses (controlling for gender) revealed that psychopathy was the strongest positive predictor for increased rape cognitions. Findings suggest that short exposure to sexist social media content may not influence rape cognitions, but that dispositional factors such as psychopathy are more important.

Who sees opportunity to help? A prospective study on adolescents’ detection of intervention opportunities in situations of sexual and dating violence

Adolescent bystanders (i.e., witnesses to violence) can prevent sexual and dating violence among their peers and create a safer social environment if they detect the opportunity. The current study prospectively examined the association of demographic (i.e., age, gender, sexual orientation), psychosocial (i.e., knowledge, rape myth acceptance, victim empathy), and behavioral (i.e., binge drinking) factors with bystander opportunity detection in situations regarding sexual and dating violence among adolescents ( N = 1,322, 50.3% girls/women, 88.9% White/non-Hispanic, 85.9% heterosexual, 18.6% free/reduced lunch, aged 13–19). Sexual minority girls, adolescents with greater victim empathy, and binge drinkers were more likely to detect bystander opportunity than heterosexual girls, boys, adolescents with less victim empathy, and nonbinge drinkers. These findings suggest that current theoretical frameworks used to understand bystander opportunity and action may be enhanced by the consideration of demographic and personal characteristics.

Apology and Restitution: Offender Accountability Responses Influence Victim Empathy and Forgiveness

Two experiments ( N = 487) tested the effects of receiving an apology (absent, present) and restitution (absent, present) in imagery of a one-sided transgression and common property crime, a burglary scenario. Within a framework of accountability, apology and restitution represent relationally responsive responsibility-taking and repair efforts by a perpetrator. Experiments 1 and 2 found that a thorough apology and restitution each decreased unforgiveness while eliciting increased empathy and forgiveness from student and community samples, respectively. Experiment 2 found that a custody condition consistent with a perpetrator’s willing accountability for wrongdoing (i.e., spontaneous confession with surrender) decreased unforgiveness while increasing empathy and forgiveness in comparison to a custody condition in which the offender was being held accountable externally (involuntary apprehension) or a no-custody control condition. This experimental evidence points to offender accountability efforts through apology, restitution, and surrender as important for decreasing victims’ unforgiving motivations and promoting their empathy and forgiveness.

Analysing the personality traits and behaviour of Jimmy Savile during the 2009 Surrey Police interviews: A Thematic Analysis

<p>This study has used a thematic anyalsis of the Surrey Police interview transcript of Jimmy Savile in 2009. The interview transcript was analysed for themes, words and phrases used by Savile during the police interview. The findings suggest that Savile lacked any victim empathy and displayed traits often associated with narcissistic personality disorder or (NPD). In addition, Savile dominated the interview process creating a power imbalance in his favour. Savile also atributes blame towards the victims and also criminalises them. These behaviours are often associated with sexual offending. The thematic analysis of the Savile interview is important as it is the only available record of his behaviour and personality when confronted with serious sexual offending allegations. There are no ethical or legal considerations for this study. No ethical approval was necessary regarding the study. The study can also be replicated by way of thematic analysis. </p>

Analysing the personality traits and behaviour of Jimmy Savile during the 2009 Surrey Police interviews: A Thematic Analysis

<p>This study has used a thematic anyalsis of the Surrey Police interview transcript of Jimmy Savile in 2009. The interview transcript was analysed for themes, words and phrases used by Savile during the police interview. The findings suggest that Savile lacked any victim empathy and displayed traits often associated with narcissistic personality disorder or (NPD). In addition, Savile dominated the interview process creating a power imbalance in his favour. Savile also atributes blame towards the victims and also criminalises them. These behaviours are often associated with sexual offending. The thematic analysis of the Savile interview is important as it is the only available record of his behaviour and personality when confronted with serious sexual offending allegations. There are no ethical or legal considerations for this study. No ethical approval was necessary regarding the study. The study can also be replicated by way of thematic analysis. </p>