Gordon & Wong, 2000 developed a program with the Integration of assessment and treatment of violenceprone offenders. A risk reduction focused correctional treatment program for violence prone forensic clients. We have discussed different psychological models of violence. Now we will discus s that how these approaches can help in treating a violent, criminogenic personality.
- Psychodynamic model
Psychodynamics provides a unique opportunity for therapist and patient to discover and to explore the violence, both conscious and unconscious. We have discussed in detail the basic concepts of this model; now will view the application of those concepts into forensic psychology.
- Freudian assessment
Using a psychodynamic approach, clinician may assess through HTP. As discussed earlier, individual is asked to draw a house, tree and person and then those drawings are interpreted. No special equipment is required for this test. House drawing represents family Tree drawing tells about the ego strength and growth potential. While drawing of person depicts the self esteem and ego strength.
Two qualities /benefits of using this test are that:
1. It not only allows assessing the personality.
2. But also permit to begin communication in a meaningful way.
1. It not only allows assessing the personality.
2. But also permit to begin communication in a meaningful way.
HTP is a very good test to start a therapeutic relationship, because it permits a window into the soul of the person. On one hand therapist is communicating with criminal so working toward making a rapport on the other hand by interpreting the drawings treatment targets are identified like if the ego is too much strong are weak, steps are taken to balance them. The primary use of the HTP, however, is related to the qualitative scoring scheme in which the test administrator subjectively analyzes the drawings and the responses to questions in a way that assesses the test taker's personality. For example, a very small house might indicate rejection of one's home life. A tree that has a slender trunk but has large expansive branches might indicate a need for satisfaction. A drawing of a person that has a lot of detail in the face might indicate a need to present oneself in an acceptable social light.
Other methods of interpretation focus on the function of various parts in each of the drawings. In the house drawing, the roof might represent one's intellectual side, the walls might represent the test taker's degree of ego strength, and the doors and windows might represent the individual's relation to the outside world. In the tree drawing, the branches might indicate the test taker's relation to the outside world and the trunk might indicate inner strength.
One crucial thing for consideration is the cultural differences in interpretation of HTP, a chimney on roof with smoke may indicate warmth and satisfaction in England but the same drawing has totally different indication in our culture, smoke can points to the aggressive and violent environment of family. Common sense is more important then the HTP manual in forensic settings. While heeding a psychodynamic approach, a clinician will also explore the following phenomena and will estimate the severity of problem. We are not going to dwell on description of these concepts as we have already discussed in detail.
