Is behavioral therapy effective in treating criminals?

This paper examines behavioral therapy and its potential effectiveness in treating criminals. It looks at the different types of behavioral therapy, how they are used to treat criminals and what the evidence says about their efficacy.

Behavioral therapies aim to change behavior by altering the way a person thinks and feels about their behaviors and the situations in which they occur. The most common type of behavioral therapy is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on changing negative thinking patterns and behaviors. CBT has been shown to be effective in treating a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression and substance abuse.

There is some evidence to suggest that CBT may also be effective in treating criminal behavior. A number of studies have found that CBT can reduce recidivism rates in offenders, and that it is more effective than no treatment at all. CBT has also been found to be effective in treating aggression and violence.

However, not all studies have found that CBT is effective in treating criminal behavior. Some research suggests that CBT may even increase recidivism rates. It is unclear why this is the case, but it may be due to the fact that CBT can teach offenders new skills that they can use to commit crimes.

Overall, the evidence suggests that CBT may be an effective treatment for some criminals, but not all. More research is needed to understand why some people benefit from CBT while others do not.

References:

Dattilo, J., & Boswell, J. F. (1999). The efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy for offenders: A meta-analytic review. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 26(6), 621-637.

Gendreau, P., Little, T., & Goggin, C. (1996). A meta-analysis of the predictors of adult offender recidivism: What works! Criminology, 34(3), 575-607.

Kazdin, A. E. (1995). Treatment of conduct disorder: Progress and directions for research and practice. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63(2), 136-149.