Clive R. Hollin

Victim to offender: A review

It has been suggested that victimization during childhood may be a primary factor in the adoption of offending behaviour during adolescence. Why is it, therefore, that the majority of child abuse victims do not become delinquent? Although empirical and theoretical evidence abounds in the victim to offender literature, the pathways responsible for vulnerability towards and protection against criminal activity have so far been unidentified. The significance of detecting these influencing factors is apparent, specifically in relation to termination of the cycle either before or after it has begun.

Sociomoral reasoning, perceptions of own parenting and self-reported delinquency

Abstract This study considers the relationship between moral reasoning, perceptions of parenting and self-reported delinquency in a sample of undergraduate students. Correlations showed that several aspects of perceived parenting style were related to moral reasoning, and perceived parental rejection was related to delinquency. Separate analysis for males and females showed the same pattern. Gender of respondent was the most significant predictor of self-report delinquency scores. For males and females considered apart, perceived parental over-protection was related to male self-reported delinquency, and moral reasoning to female self-reported delinquency. The extension of this study to offender groups is seen as the next step in this line of investigation.

Designing effective rehabilitation programmes for young offenders

Abstract Following an overview of the “nothing works” philosophy with respect to working with offenders, the impact of the meta-analyses on current thinking is discussed. The argument is advanced that, by providing a standardized statistical summary of a large number of empirical studies, the meta-analyses have led to a rejection of the idea that “nothing works” and have begun to define “what works”. The meta-analyses have suggested which offenders are most likely to benefit from rehabilitative programmes, and what types of programmes are most likely to be successful. Armed with this knowledge of what works, the second part of the paper looks at the practical issues of planning for success. It is suggested that the key strategies in designing successful programmes are: (1) selection of suitable offenders; (2) programme integrity; (3) an empowering organizational structure; and (4) staff training.

The behavioral treatment of self-starvation and severe self-injury in a patient with borderline personality disorder

The successful treatment by behavioral methods of self-starvation and self-injury in a 35-year-old psychiatric in-patient, with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, is described. An individualized program using positive and negative reinforcers to increase food and fluid intake was used, while a token economy therapeutic milieu with time out was used to decrease acts of self-injury and aggression. Progress in treatment generalized to a non-secure treatment environment, and was maintained at an 8-month follow-up. The study illustrates the differential response of active and passive self injurious behaviors to group-based and individual treatments, respectively.

Young Offenders' Explanations of Crime and Preferred Method of Disposition

This paper examines the hypothesis that sex offenders might differ from non-sex offenders in causes attributed to and disposition advocated for sex and other offences. Fifteen of the 33 subjects were sex offenders, the remainder having committed a variety of other offences. Subjects listened to the details of four audiotape fabricated crimes (rape, robbery, arson, manslaughter), then verbally completed a previously validated scale of explanations of offending, and finally recommended a type of disposition. No significant difference in causal explanation was found between sex and non-sex offenders; although sex offenders appeared more treatment-oriented in their preferred means of disposition. Across all subjects there was an interaction between type of crime and explanation, replicating previous research that found that explanations of crime amongst the general population are crime-specific. A contradiction between the attribution of mental instability and punitive disposition for rape was discussed in relation to a labelling hypothesis of sex offenders.

Concern about the threat of nuclear war: Just another worry?

Abstract Concern and worry about the possibility of nuclear war has been seen as posing a particular threat to the mental health of vulnerable individuals. Alternatively, it has been proposed that people who worry about nuclear war “worry about everything”, suggesting that the risk to mental health caused specifically by worry about nuclear war is not special or unique in any way. The present study was designed to investigate whether a group selected on the basis of a high level of worry about nuclear war did “worry about everything”. Questionnaire responses to ten items of contemporary concern, including the possibility of nuclear war, were used to define from a larger population two groups, with high and low levels of worry about nuclear war respectively. Between-group analysis revealed that the group worried about the possibility of nuclear war did worry more generally, and had higher scores on measures of anxiety and depression. However, further analysis suggested that worry about nuclear war could no...