This project addresses the role of anger in violent crime committed by women, and alternatives that are currently available to manage this anger. This has been a neglected area of criminological research, partly because of women's lesser involvement in crime in general and violent crime in particular. The role of anger in violent crime committed by men has received considerable attention and treatment programs have been developed and evaluated. This has not happened to the same extent for women. This project addresses this deficit by reviewing the literature on anger experienced by women offenders. The project begins by critically examining theories explaining the development of anger expression in women in western society and how this differs from men. The focus then shifts to female offenders and a review of literature on feminist criminology. From the literature, issues are identified which need to be considered when developing women's anger management programs. At the policy level, current initiatives in women's policy development in the western world are explored. Finally recommendations are made for the future development of anger management programs for women in prison in South Australia. / Thesis (MSocWk)--University of South Australia, 2001

The study of empathy has had a long history in both psychology and philosophy; however, debate has continued in relation to the exact nature of the construct. Several distinct variants of empathy have evolved over time, with some researchers viewing the construct as cognitive, while others emphasise the affective nature of empathy. An examination of the history of the construct reveals evidence which supports both positions. Multidimensional models of empathy, such as that posed by Davis (1994), encompass both cognitive and affective accounts of empathy, as well as their interaction. Despite the apparent acceptance of multidimensional models of empathy, confusion still remains as to the definition of empathy. This has restrained theories of the relationship between empathy and constructs such as aggression. The current program of study sought to clarify the relationship between aggression and empathy, focusing on a multidimensional approach. It was argued that previous research relied on the assumed inhibitory nature of empathy on aggression, and although intuitive, had failed to acknowledge alternative explanations for a relationship between empathy and aggression. Three possible explanations to account for a possible relationship between empathy and aggression were therefore examined. firstly, that the distress cues of another produce distress in the observer (personal distress) and that distress is interpreted as aversive. Personal distress produces a drive to reduce the aversive state which may result in the use of violence by some individuals. (Empathic arousal functioning as a facilitator of aggression); secondly, that the distress cues of another fail to produce an affective reaction in some observers. (Empathic arousal failing to function as an inhibitor of aggression); and thirdly, that the distress cues of another produce an affective reaction in some observers, which is interpreted as an excitation (contrast empathy), and functions to reinforce the use of violence. (Empathic arousal functioning as a facilitator of aggression). During phase 1 of the research the psychometric properties of the empathy measure, currently used with offenders, were examined in an offender sample. Results from 88 violent offenders indicated that the measure was not suitable for use with offender samples, and therefore new scales needed to be produced before research could continue. Two scales were constructed; the Negative Affect Intolerance Scale (NAIS) assessed offenders’ level of intolerance toward distress cues of others, while the Offender Contrast Affect Scale (OCAS) assessed offenders’ level of excitation and enjoyment of the distress cues of others. Once scale construction had been complete, the psychometric properties of the scales were examined using sample of 166 university students. These preliminary results indicated that both scales were reliable and valid. Phase 2 of the research program began with a pilot study to examine the psychometric properties of the two newly constructed scales with sample of 49 incarcerated male offenders. Both scales once again produced results which supported their reliability and validity. A larger study was then conducted to examine the three theorised roles that empathy may play in either the production or maintenance of aggression. Cluster analysis identified 5 clusters in a sample of 106 sentenced male offenders, based on their responses to a set of scales (including the NAIS and OCAS). Each of these clusters was compared to a Western Australian community sample (43 low SES males). Results supported all three explanations of a relationship between empathy and aggression, within different clusters of offenders. The final phase of research involved postulating a theoretical role for cognitive aspects of empathy (perspective taking) in the production or inhibition of aggression. It was argued that, despite the apparent simplicity with which the construct has been dealt with in the literature, perspective taking should be considered a two dimensional construct (frequency & accuracy). When considered in this way, perspective taking may provide additional guidance in the study and treatment of human aggression

Is it what adult violent offenders think or how they think that discriminates them most from non-offenders? This study investigates whether violent and criminal sentiments, attributional biases and violence based grievance resolution strategies represent dynamic criminogenic risk factors. The results indicate that it is what offenders think that discriminates them more than how they think. The participants were 546 adults comprising 105 violent offenders, 238 university students and 203 men and women from a stratified random community sample. Using interview data from high-risk violent offenders, two scales were specifically developed to measure the variables of interest. The differences between offenders and non-offenders in violent attitudes was measured by expanding the scope of the Criminal Sentiments Scale. The differences in attributional biases and problem solving was assessed by a second scale developed for this study. The results showed that offenders were clearly different from non-offenders with the offenders endorsing significantly higher criminal and violent sentiments with an effect size of h2 =.46. The offenders also reported a significantly higher level of violence-based resolution strategies to end grievances than non-offenders. However, the surprising finding was that the adult male high-risk offenders did not demonstrate more pronounced hostile attributional biases than either adult men and women students or men and women from the community. The results imply that believing violence is acceptable and being prepared to use violence is more criminogenic than how you interpret the social behaviour of others. These findings have important implications for our understanding of why grievances escalate and the development of more effective intervention programs.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, 1983. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 453-474).

Thesis (M.S.C.J.)--Bowling Green State University, 2007. / Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 66 p. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D)--Murdoch University, 2006. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Arts. Includes bibliographical references (leaves189-208).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 1991. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-97). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Northwest Missouri State University, 2008. / The full text of the thesis is included in the pdf file. Title from title screen of full text.pdf file (viewed on May 28, 2008) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Youngstown State University, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-107).

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references.