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Helen works in Egton prison with offenders who have committed burglary - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 8 - 2018 - Paper 2
Question 8
Helen works in Egton prison with offenders who have committed burglary. She is considering using a cognitive-behavioural treatment for the offenders. (a) Describe h... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Helen works in Egton prison with offenders who have committed burglary - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 8 - 2018 - Paper 2
Step 1
Describe how one cognitive-behavioural treatment could be used by Helen for the offenders at the prison.
Answer
One cognitive-behavioural treatment that Helen could use is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). In this approach, Helen would aim to provide the offenders with insights into their thought processes regarding their actions, particularly focusing on the thoughts that lead them to commit burglary.
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Insight Development: Helen would facilitate sessions that help the offenders understand their internal thoughts and how these thoughts influence their decisions to commit burglary. By recognizing these thoughts, offenders can start to question and alter them.
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Cognitive Restructuring: The therapy would also include techniques to change the offenders' thoughts when faced with situations that might prompt them to commit burglaries again. For example, if an offender typically thinks, 'I need money, and stealing is the only option', Helen would guide them to think critically about alternative solutions.
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Individual and Group Sessions: Helen could lead both individual and small group therapy sessions at Egton prison. During these sessions, each group of offenders could share their experiences and insights, fostering an environment of support and accountability.
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Session Structure: Helen would design the therapy to take place over a set number of weeks, for instance, 9 sessions over 12 weeks, allowing enough time for offenders to engage deeply with the material.
Step 2
Explain one strength and one weakness of one cognitive-behavioural treatment for offenders.
Answer
One strength of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is its empirical support, which demonstrates its effectiveness in reducing recidivism rates among offenders. Chen et al. (2015) found that CBT significantly reduced violent tendencies in offenders, suggesting that the structured approach helps them develop better coping mechanisms and thought processes.
On the other hand, a potential weakness of CBT is that it may not be effective for all offenders, particularly those who are unwilling to engage with the process. If offenders do not acknowledge their need for change or refuse to participate honestly, the therapeutic interventions may not yield the desired results, which could perpetuate negative behaviors.