From Perpetrators' points of view, violence is good, but for anyone that violence harms it is not. This presentation shows that violence is mindless. The logical response to mindlessness is mindfulness. Mindfulness-based practice, therefore, is a logical response to violence

1. Sex Offenses as Good
from the Points of View
of Perpetrators:
The Logic of Mindfulness-Based
Interventions
6th Annual Social Work Day
May 19, 2016
Jane F. Gilgun
Tina Simms
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, USA

2. Overview
Definitions
Illustrations
Interpersonal Violence
as Mindless
Mindfulness-Based Interventions
as a Response to Mindlessness
A Proposed Treatment Model
2

3. Mindfulness
Here & now awareness of
bodily sensations
perceptions
emotion
thought
behavior
Acceptance: Make no judgments
3

4. Mindfulness-Based Practice
If interpersonal violence is mindless, then
how to increase perpetrators’ mindfulness?
4

5. Sources of Components
of the Intervention
More than 30 years of in-depth life
history Interviews
Phenomenological Research on Violence
Research from Developmental Psychology
Knowledge of Practice Models
Decades of Reflective Practice
5

6. Group Work
Reasoning: Persons Who
Perp Learn from Each Other
Shame can be huge
Denial can be huge
”Civilians” don’t get it
“Oh, you naïve thing”

7. Group Work
Values:
Autonomy
Dignity and Respect
Do no harm

8. More on the Model
 Groups of 4-5 members
 Issues are
difficult
complicated
hard to manage
 Two Facilitators
 Experienced in mindfulness practice
 Experienced in work with perpetrators

9. Structure of Group
Sessionscheck in;
self-regulation exercises such as
guided meditation, yoga, or silent
meditation;
guided meditation on a topic
related to the violence they have
committed and are at risk to
commit in the future,

10. Structure of Group
Sessionsdiscussion of the meditation;
discussion of what went well
and what could’ve gone better
in that day’s group; and
a final self-regulation exercise.

11. What’s Next?
Develop an evaluation plan
Find sites to test the model
Evaluate the model
Revise the model

12. What’s Next?
Implement the revised model
Evaluate the revised model
Revise the model, etc.
Eventually, do a quasi-
experiment
Wait list as control group

13. Discussion: Contributions of
Qualitative Methods to
Intervention Research
Identified Foundational Idea:
Mindlessness
Perspectives and meanings are central
Integrated with
Related Research
Values
Practice Experience 13

14. References
 Alexander, C. N., Rainforth, M. V., Frank, P. R., Grant, J. D., Von Stade, C., &
Walton, K. G. (2003). Walpole study of the transcendental meditation
program in maximum security prisoners III. Journal of Offender
Rehabilitation, 36(1-4), 161–180.
 Apsche, J., Bass, C., & DiMeo, L. (2011). Mode Deactivation Therapy (MDT):
Comprehensive meta-analysis. International Journal of Behavioral
Consultation and Therapy, 7, 47-54.
 Athens, Lonnie (1997). Violent criminal acts and actors revisited. Urbana and
Chicago: University of Illinois.
 Fraser, Mark W., & Maeda J. Galinsky (2010). Steps in intervention research:
Designing and developing social programs. Research on Social Work Practice,
20, 459-466.
 Gilgun, Jane F. & Roberta G. Sands (2012). The contributions of qualitative
approaches to developmental intervention research. Research on Social Work
Practice, 11(4), 349- 361. 14

15. References
 Gillespie, S., Mitchell, I., Fisher, D., & Beech, A. (2012). Treating disturbed emotional
regulation in sexual offenders: The potential applications of mindful self-regulation and
controlled breathing techniques. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 17, 333-343.
 Jennings, J. L., Apsche, J. a, Blossom, P., & Bayles, C. (2013). Using mindfulness in the
treatment of adolescent sexual abusers: Contributing common factor or a primary
modality? International Journal of Behavioral Consultation & Therapy, 8(3), 17–22.
 Patton, Michael (2011). Developmental evaluation: Applying complexity concepts to
enhance innovation and use. New York: Guilford.
 Shonin, Edo, Willian Van Gordon, Karen Slade, & Mark D. Griffiths (2013) Mindfulness
and other Buddhist-derived interventions in correctional settings: A systematic review
Aggression and Violent Behavior 18, 365–372 .
 Thomas, Edwin J. & Jack Rothman (1994). An integrative perspective on intervention
research. In Jack Rothman & Edwin J. Thomas (Eds.), Intervention research: Design and
development for human services (pp. 3-23). New York: Haworth.
 Thomas, Edwin J. (1978) Mousetraps, developmental research, and social work
education. Social Service Review, 52(3), 468–483.
 van Vreeswijk, Michiel; Broersen, Jenny; Schurink, Ger (2014-10-20). Mindfulness and
Schema Therapy: A Practical Guide (p. 203). Wiley. Kindle Edition.
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