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Perceptions of Social Climate and Aggressive Behavior in Forensic Services: A Systematic Review
Joanne Robinson1, Leam A Craig1,2,3, Matthew Tonkin3
11 Centre for Forensic and Criminological Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Trauma, Violence & Abuse
|August 14, 2016
Summary
Positive social climates in secure forensic services are linked to reduced aggression. Key factors include patient safety, cohesion, and environment atmosphere, benefiting both staff and patients.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Social climate significantly influences mood and behavior within any setting.
- Understanding social climate in secure forensic services is crucial for managing patient conduct.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize research on social climate perceptions within secure forensic services.
- To identify associations between social climate factors and aggression in these settings.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across electronic databases.
- Reference list hand-searching and expert consultation.
- Inclusion/exclusion criteria and quality screening of identified studies.
Main Results:
- Seven studies were included in the review.
- Patient perceptions of safety, group cohesion, environmental atmosphere, and open group climate were associated with aggression.
- Positive social climates were linked to lower aggression levels.
Conclusions:
- Creating positive social climates is essential for secure forensic services.
- Improvements in social climate can lead to reduced aggression among patients and staff.
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