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Improvements in Empathy and Cognitive Flexibility after Court-Mandated Intervention Program in Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators: The Role of Alcohol Abuse

Author

Listed:
  • Ángel Romero-Martínez

    (Department of Psychobiology, University of Valencia, Valencia 46010, Spain)

  • Marisol Lila

    (Department of Social Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia 46010, Spain)

  • Manuela Martínez

    (Department of Psychobiology, University of Valencia, Valencia 46010, Spain)

  • Vicente Pedrón-Rico

    (Department of Social Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia 46010, Spain)

  • Luis Moya-Albiol

    (Department of Psychobiology, University of Valencia, Valencia 46010, Spain)

Abstract

Research assessing the effectiveness of intervention programs for intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators has increased considerably in recent years. However, most of it has been focused on the analysis of psychological domains, neglecting neuropsychological variables and the effects of alcohol consumption on these variables. This study evaluated potential neuropsychological changes (emotional decoding, perspective taking, emotional empathy and cognitive flexibility) and their relationship with alcohol consumption in a mandatory intervention program for IPV perpetrators, as well as how these variables affect the risk of IPV recidivism. The sample was composed of 116 individuals with high alcohol ( n = 55; HA) and low alcohol ( n = 61; LA) consumption according to self-report screening measures who received treatment in a IPV perpetrator intervention program developed in Valencia (Spain). IPV perpetrators with HA consumption were less accurate in decoding emotional facial signals and adopting others’ perspective, and less cognitively flexible than those with LA consumption before the IPV intervention. Further, the effectiveness of the intervention program was demonstrated, with increases being observed in cognitive empathy (emotional decoding and perspective taking) and in cognitive flexibility. Nevertheless, the HA group showed a smaller improvement in these skills and higher risk of IPV recidivism than the LA group. Moreover, improvement in these skills was related to a lower risk of IPV recidivism. The study provides guidance on the targeting of cognitive domains, which are key factors for reducing IPV recidivism.

Suggested Citation

  • Ángel Romero-Martínez & Marisol Lila & Manuela Martínez & Vicente Pedrón-Rico & Luis Moya-Albiol, 2016. "Improvements in Empathy and Cognitive Flexibility after Court-Mandated Intervention Program in Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators: The Role of Alcohol Abuse," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:4:p:394-:d:67064
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Enrique Gracia & Antonio López-Quílez & Miriam Marco & Silvia Lladosa & Marisol Lila, 2014. "Exploring Neighborhood Influences on Small-Area Variations in Intimate Partner Violence Risk: A Bayesian Random-Effects Modeling Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Ángel Romero-Martínez & Marisol Lila & Alba Catalá-Miñana & Ryan K. Williams & Luis Moya-Albiol, 2013. "The Contribution of Childhood Parental Rejection and Early Androgen Exposure to Impairments in Socio-Cognitive Skills in Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators with High Alcohol Consumption," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-18, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ángel Romero-Martínez & Marisol Lila & Enrique Gracia & Luis Moya-Albiol, 2019. "Dropout from Court-Mandated Intervention Programs for Intimate Partner Violence Offenders: The Relevance of Alcohol Misuse and Cognitive Impairments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-11, July.
    2. Ángel Romero-Martínez & Marisol Lila & Enrique Gracia & Christina M. Rodriguez & Luis Moya-Albiol, 2019. "Acceptability of Intimate Partner Violence among Male Offenders: The Role of Set-Shifting and Emotion Decoding Dysfunctions as Cognitive Risk Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-10, April.
    3. Ángel Romero-Martínez & Marisol Lila & Luis Moya-Albiol, 2019. "Long-Term Drug Misuse Increases the Risk of Cognitive Dysfunctions in Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators: Key Intervention Targets for Reducing Dropout and Reoffending," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-13, October.
    4. Sara Vitoria-Estruch & Ángel Romero-Martínez & Marisol Lila & Luis Moya-Albiol, 2018. "Could Alcohol Abuse Drive Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators’ Psychophysiological Response to Acute Stress?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Ángel Romero Martínez & Marisol Lila & Luis Moya-Albiol, 2019. "The Importance of Considering Alexithymia during Initial Stages of Intimate Partner Violence Interventions to Design Adjuvant Treatments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-9, October.

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