crime - modifying: anger: ethical

Question 1

voluntary consent

Answer 1

P: unethical issue of voluntary consent
E: individuals are often coerced into taking when AM is given as a part of their sentence. Refusal could lead to extended prison time, which undermines their free will to give genuine consent to participate
T: Therefore this is a weakness as without an informed and voluntary consent being given by participants, it violates their respect for autonomy which is therefore unethical.
COUNTER: that said, AM benefits both the individual and society by reducing aggressive behaviour and therefore reducing recidivism. Therefore the cost of compromising consent for the benefit of public safety and rehabilitation seems a necessary justification.

Question 2

free will

Answer 2

P: Is ethical as skill acquisition and rehearsal helps offenders gain behavioural strategies that gives them free will to not be determined into criminality
E: Being taught how to resolve conflicts assertively without aggression, as well as cognitive flexibility and self-regulation, it empowers offenders with the necessary skills to participate in society appropriately long term
T: The ethical strength of this is that they don’t become dependent on therapists for intervention in the long term as they are able to re-use the skills they’ve learnt over and over again. Additionally, they no longer feel powerless and predetermined to a life of crime as they recognise they themselves are capable of change

Question 3

psychological harm

Answer 3

P: Unethical as it May cause harm through reflection
E: Watt et al found that offenders undergoing AM reported increased distress when reflecting on violent past actions
T: Therefore unethical as by forcing them to confront the harm they have caused (especially for those with pre-existing mental health conditions) could lead to severe emotional distress that increases the risk of depression, self-harm or suicide which are already present enough in prison populations