Contributions of a Reflective Practice Group of Male Perpetrators of Violence Against Women

Abstract

In Brazil, reflective practice groups and groups for the liability of men who commit violence against women represent a public policy with good results in reducing violence between intimate partners. This study aimed to assess the contributions of a reflective practice group on feelings such as empathy, aggressiveness and anger in men who commit violent crimes against women. Using the Empathy Scale - ACME, the Aggression Tendency Assessment Scale - EATA, the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory 2 - STAXI 2 and a sociodemographic questionnaire, a quantitative study was carried out with 80 men divided into a reflective practice group and a control group. It was found that the members of the reflective group showed a decrease in mean aggressiveness and an increase in mean empathy compared with the control group. It is suggested that empathy, aggressiveness and anger be integrated into interventions using active methodologies.