Breaking barriers: Addressing hostile attribution bias and aggression among future correctional officers

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Hostile Attribution Bias (HAB) is the tendency to interpret ambiguous social cues as hostile.
• HAB is a known predictor of aggressive behavior.
• Correctional officers face high-stress environments where misinterpretations can escalate conflict.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive bias modification for interpretation (CBM-I) intervention.
• To reduce HAB and reactive aggression in future correctional officers.
• To assess the intervention's impact in a high-stakes professional setting.

Main Methods:

• 209 trainee correctional officers participated.
• Participants were assigned to either a CBM-I intervention or a control group.
• HAB was measured pre-intervention, post-intervention, and post-internship; reactive aggression was measured post-internship.

Main Results:

• A significant reduction in HAB was observed immediately post-intervention, particularly towards inmates.
• The reduction in HAB was partially sustained after a prison internship.
• The CBM-I intervention led to lower reactive aggression, mediated by reduced HAB.

Conclusions:

• Brief CBM-I interventions are effective in reducing HAB and reactive aggression in demanding professional roles.
• Cognitive interventions hold potential for enhancing interpersonal dynamics and mitigating aggression in diverse contexts.
• This study supports the application of CBM-I for improving officer-inmate interactions and overall safety.