International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

The Effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy on Reducing Proactive and Reactive Criminal Thinking among Male Adult Offenders in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mehdi Shomali-Ahmadabadi 1
Yaser Rezapour-Mirsaleh 2
Zahra Yousefi 1
1 Department of Psychology, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan
2 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Ardakan University
10.30491/ijbs.2024.421239.2038
Abstract
Introduction: Cognitive factors, including error patterns in thinking, significantly contribute to the propensity for criminal and antisocial behavior. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the rational emotive behavior therapy on reducing proactive and reactive criminal thinking of male adult offenders in Iran.
Method: A quasi-experimental design utilizing pretest, post-test and follow-up test and waiting-list control group was conducted. The study's statistical population included male Prisoners in Ardakan in 2023. Thirty male prisoners were selected by convenience sampling and randomized into experimental (n=15) and waiting list control groups (n=15). Participants of the experimental group received 12 sessions of Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) intervention; and all participants answered the criminal thinking styles-short form (Mitchell et al., 2017
Results: Findings revealed that proactive and reactive criminal thinking of male adult convict offenders in experimental group, as compared to control, at post-test phase significantly decreased (p<.05). In addition, an improvement of the dependent variables in the follow-up phase has also been continued (p<.05).
Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, tin order to reduce proactive and reactive criminal thinking, REBT psychotherapy approach can be used.
Keywords
Proactive and Reactive Criminal Thinking
REBT
Offenders
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International Journal of Behavioral Sciences
Volume 18, Issue 1
Spring 2024
Pages 22-28