Evaluation of Social Skills Groups for Sex Offenders (From Sexual Offenders: Context, Assessment and Treatment, P 52-59, 1993, Noel K Clark and Geoffrey M Stephenson, eds. -- See NCJ-150890)

• NCJ Number: 150898
• Author(s): R E Hopkins
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 8 pages
• Sale Source: British Psychological Soc
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

Social skills group work with rapists, pedophiles, and incest offenders was conducted at an English prison to reduce social anxiety, increase self-confidence in interpersonal relationships, and encourage the development of more appropriate assertive and socially expressive behavior.

Abstract

Group members were evaluated using self-report questionnaires that included measures of self-esteem, social anxiety and distress, and fear of negative evaluation and through staff observations and ratings and videotaped social encounters with an unknown female. Social skills training involved learning through discussion and observing and practicing social skills. Rapists appeared to be more socially anxious than pedophiles and incest offenders. Although group work intervention was accomplished with a small number of offenders over a relatively short period of time, the self-confidence and interpersonal relationships of group members improved and the level of social anxiety decreased. 19 references, 2 tables, and 3 figures