Some Thoughts on Assessing Violence Potential

Abstract

This article examines some issues related to assessing individuals who exhibit violent behavior. The concepts of violence, anger, aggression, and hostility are defined. Three types of common reactions to violent material are identified: those characterized by (1) repulsion, (2) voyeuristic fascination, and (3) a sense of helplessness on the part of the psychotherapist. In assessing violence potential, it is important to be clear about who is at risk of what and how likely it is that the violence will occur. The article concludes that psychotherapy is more likely to be appropriate when violence is expressive and relatively ego dystonic.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Geoff Mothersole

Geoff Mothersole, B.Sc., M.S.W., M.Sc.C.-Psychol., A.F.B.Ps.S., is a chartered counselling psychologist (BPS), a registered integrative psychotherapist (UKCP), and also a Provisional Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst. He works as a psychologist for Worthing Priority Care NHS Trust and at the Bracton Centre, Bexley Hospital, Kent. The latter is a forensic unit where he specializes in work with violent and sexual offenders and co-ordinates the Cassius project for violent men. He also has a private practice as a psychotherapist and supervisor in Brighton, is past Professional Development Officer for the U.K. Council for Psychotherapy, and serves as visiting tutor in the M.Sc. in transactional analysis psychotherapy at Metanoia Institute.