Assessing the Social Problem Solving Skills Ofviolent Offenders: Examining Perceived and Demonstrated Social Problemsolving Skills in a Sample of ... Courtordered for Violence Reduction Treatment

Most of the research in the social problem solvingfield has focused on perceived problem solvingability assessed through instruments such as theProblem Solving Inventory (PSI) or the SocialProblem-Solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R). Asmaller segment of research has applied uniquemethodologies that measure problem solvingperformance. Although adherents of problem solvingappraisal inventories have suggested a strongrelationship between appraisal and performance, thereis a paucity of research examining the relationshipbetween appraisal and performance. The current studyinvestigated the inter-relationships among problemsolving appraisal, problem solving performance,aggression and readiness to change in a sample ofparticipants (N = 140) randomly selected from aViolence Reduction Training Program (VRTP). Problemsolving appraisal was measured pre- andpost-treatment using the Social Problem-SolvingInventory-Revised-Short Form (SPSI-R-SF) and problemsolving performance was measured using real-worldassignments.