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

Hostile Attribution Bias (HAB), the tendency to interpret ambiguous social cues as hostile, has been linked to aggression This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive bias modification for interpretation (CBM-I) intervention in reducing HAB and reactive aggression among future correctional officers.

A total of 209 trainee correctional officers were assigned to groups equivalent in terms of HAB scores and then allocated to either a CBM-I intervention condition or a control condition. HAB was assessed at three time points (before training, post-intervention, and after a prison internship), and reactive aggression was assessed at the final point.

Results showed a significant reduction in HAB immediately after the intervention, especially toward inmates, with effects partially sustained after field experience. The intervention also led to lower reactive aggression, an effect mediated by reduced HAB.

s: These findings support the use of brief CMB-I interventions to reduce HAB and reactive aggression in high-stakes professional settings. More broadly, these findings highlight the potential of cognitive interventions to improve interpersonal dynamics and mitigate aggression in various professional and social contexts.