Written by Dr. Katrina Kuzyszyn-Jones
Abstract
The psychological treatment of antisocial personality has fallen to the wayside because most individuals with this disorder are excluded from therapy due to the punitive philosophy of the correctional system. These individuals continue to have unhealthy interactions with others, commit crimes, and return to prison after they have served both short and prolonged sentences. This suggests some reform needs to occur in the treatment of offenders with antisocial personality disorder. After reviewing current literature, a common factors approach is suggested for use in the correctional system. This involves a treatment package which includes motivational techniques and treatments for impulse control, social deviance, negative affect, criminal behavior and thinking, and reactive violence. This treatment is suggested only for use with persons with sociopathy, which is operationally defined as an individual who is unsocialized due to parental failures rather than inborn disposition. Future research explores ideas such as including more specialized populations such as women, juveniles, sexual offenders, substance abusers, and those with major mental illness.
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