Discriminating violent individuals by means of various psychological tests

Attempted to clarify the 43/4-8(8-4) controversy and further research the relationship between assaultiveness and other non-MMPI measures. Sixty-one male adolescent prisoners divided into four groups according to Race and Level of Assaultiveness served as subjects for this study. Each prisoner was administered the MMPI, the Buss-Durkee Hostility Scale and the Rotter I-E scale. The results suggest that the 4-3 code type is not an accurate predictor of violence; that elevations of F4897&6 describe the offender population (with) 8-4 describing the violent profile type); and that the Buss-Durkee Hostility scale may be valuable in assessing the violent personality.     

Group Therapy for Latency Age Black Males: Unplanned Interventions,Setting, and Racial Transferences as Catalysts for Change

This paper focuses on the special problems and processes encountered in organizing and running a group therapy program for black, latency age, male children within an urban school setting. The group chosen for presentation consisted of five boys (average age 11.8 years, range 11–13) and was run by two white clinical psychology interns (a male and female).

In the course of the group several important issues emerged which acted as catalysts for change. These included unplanned interventions, setting effects, cotherapy issues, and racial transferences. The findings and follow-up suggested that a modified expressive group psychotherapy approach can be successful in treating inner city black children.     

Treatment of non-incarcerated sexually compulsive/addictive offenders in an integrated, multimodal, and psychodynamic group therapy model

Group therapy is a widely accepted model of care for sex offenders. However, most group therapy takes place in prison utilizing a cognitive-behavioral, psychoeducational model of care. Given that over 250,000 sex offenders are in ambulatory treatment, newer models of care may need to be employed to address their specific needs. I present a naturalistic outpatient study involving my private practice of 109 consecutive sex offenders treated over a 10-year period. A multimodal model of care informed by psychodynamic theory is presented with detailed case material from one group session. Preliminary results of recidivism are presented.     

Video self-portraits: a novel approach to group psychotherapy with young adults

A group therapy model was formulated for exploring the intersubjective processes of adolescents and young adults whose group bonds had been fragmented by their severe emotional illnesses. The model involved having adolescents and young adults who were psychiatric inpatients make video self-portraits; that is, videotapes which focused on various aspects of their emotional pathology. These tapes were then presented before a larger group of nine patients for discussion. The video team method is shown to aid in self-disclosure and facilitate the working through of severe emotional conflicts in this age group. It is an especially useful method with more severely disturbed patients for whom narcissistic self pathology is a prominent feature.