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Subject: search.filters.subject.Antisocial personality disorders

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    Antisocial attitudes and antisocial behaviour : an investigation of antisocial attitudes in a New Zealand non-offender sample : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2004) Cargill, Rebecca
    The purpose of the present study was to investigate the extent of antisocial attitudes present in a non-offender sample, using the Measures of Criminal Attitudes and Associates (MCAA) and the Criminal Sentiments Scale-Modified (CSS-M). Despite the recognition of the importance of antisocial attitudes for predicting criminal and antisocial behaviour, there is a lack agreement on the specific conceptualisation of antisocial attitudes. Although there is promising research using reliable and valid attitude measures with offenders, it is unsure whether these attitudes are specific to offenders, and can be used to differentiate between offending and non-offending groups. In addition, these attitude measures have been used little with offenders, or non-offenders in New Zealand. The College of Education students in the present study were found to have less antisocial attitudes than Canadian offenders, but had more antisocial attitudes than expected. It was also found that antisocial attitudes as measured by the MCAA, could significantly explain antisocial behaviour in this sample, as measured by the Self-Report Early Delinquency Instrument (SRED). Issues with particular items on the MCAA and CSS-M are explored and it is suggested that these measures may need to be modified for use with a New Zealand population. However the MCAA shows promise in explaining antisocial behaviour, and its potential uses are explored. Implications for the assessment and treatment of offenders are discussed, as well as future directions for antisocial attitudes research.
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    Multisystemic treatment (MST) of antisocial behaviour in youth : the role of the family in facilitating change : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2004) Curtis, Nicola Mary
    The current dissertation includes three studies that examined (a) the overall effectiveness of Multisystemic Treatment (MST) achieved in previous outcome studies, (b) the effectiveness of MST with antisocial youth in New Zealand, and (c) a range of variables and their ability to predict MST treatment outcomes. Study 1 adopted meta-analytic strategies to evaluate the overall effectiveness of MST in comparison to other treatment approaches or usual services in the treatment of antisocial behaviour in youth. The meta-analysis integrated the results from seven primary and four secondary MST outcome studies involving 708 participants. Results indicate that across different presenting problems and samples, the average effect of MST was d = 0.55; across both instrumental and ultimate outcome measures, youth and their families treated with MST were functioning better and offending less than 70% of their counterparts who received alternative treatment or services (Curtis et al., 2004). Study 2 used a one-group pre- to post-treatment design to evaluate the efficacy of MST in New Zealand with 65 antisocial youth and their families. Results show that significant pre- to post-treatment improvements occurred in many of the instrumental and ultimate indicators of treatment outcomes. Gains were either maintained at or evident by the 6- and 12-month follow-up intervals. Study 3 examined data collected from participants in Study 2 to explore a range of variables hypothesised to predict the effectiveness of MST in New Zealand. Results show that parent and youth stages of change were significantly related to improvements in ultimate outcomes (i.e., school attendance and decreased frequency and severity of offending behaviour) at post-treatment. With regard to decisional balance, parent perceptions of youth motivation and improved family relations (pros) were positively related to their youth's readiness to change. Findings related to therapist availability indicate evidence of a potential sleeper effect in that the benefits of therapist contacts during treatment appear not to have been fully realised until follow-up periods. No valid associations were found between adherence ratings and treatment outcomes. Implications of these results for the continued refinement and dissemination of MST are discussed.