Offenders Motivation
Offenders’ Motivation
This includes developing measures of motivation, as well as enhancing motivation, for treatment engagement and change.
One major project is a randomised control trial investigating the effectiveness of a motivation intervention, and another is concerned with motivation for employment, including understanding barriers to employment.
Recent smaller projects have included a comparison of motivational interventions with sex offenders, and also an investigation into motivation in young people in prison (youth offenders aged 15-17).
Group members:
J Sellen
D Heggs
A Watt
J Campbell
A Sweeney
I Nekovarova
Students:
PhD student, Jacqui Campbell. BARS funded. Due to complete September 2009 (DoS, J Sellen; supervisor, A Watt).
PhD student, Anna Sweeney. Cardiff Metropolitan University funded. Due to complete 2009. (DoS, A Watt; supervisor, L Sanders).
PhD student, Iva Nekovarova. BARS funded. Currently in year 1 (DoS, D Heggs; supervisor, J Sellen)
Trainees:
Matthew Gobbett, Forensic Psychologist in Training, NOMS, Cymru
Collaborators:
Professor Mary McMurran, Nottingham University, UK
Professor Miles Cox, Bangor University, UK
Professor Eric Klinger, Minnesota University, USA
Selected Publications:
Sellen, J.L., McMurran, M., Theodosi, E., Cox, M. and Klinger, E. (2009). Validity of the offender version of the Personal Concerns Inventory with adult male prisoners. Psychology, Crime & Law, Vol 15 (5), 451-468
McMurran, M., Theodosi, E., Sweeney, A. and Sellen, J. (2008). What do prisoners want? Current concerns of adult male prisoners. Psychology, Crime and Law, 14 (3), 267-274.
McMurran, M., Sellen, J.L. and Theodosi, E. (2007). The Personal Concerns Inventory: Offender Adaptation (PCI:OA): The structure of offenders’ motivation. In E. Sullivan (Ed.), Offenders’ motivation to change. Issues in Criminological and Legal Psychology, No. 7, pp. 81-87. Leicester: The British Psychological Society.
McMurran, M., Theodosi, E., & Sellen, J. (2006). Measuring engagement in therapy and motivation to change in adult prisoners: A brief report. Criminal Behaviour & Mental Health, 16 (2), 124-129.
Sellen, J.L., McMurran, M., Cox, M., Theodosi, E. and Klinger, E. (2006). The Personal Concerns Inventory (Offender Adaptation): Measuring and Enhancing Motivation to Change. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 50, 3, 294-305.
Selected Conference Presentations:
Sellen, Campbell, Gobbett, James & Kearney (2009). Symposium. Motivation for change in offenders, examining the versatility of the Personal Aspirations and Concerns Inventory for Offenders. British Psychological Society, Division of Forensic Psychology. Lancaster, UK
Sellen, J.L., McMurran, M., Theodosi, E., Cox, M. and Klinger, E. (2006). Developing the Personal Concerns Inventory for Offenders. Reliability and Validity. International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services Conference, Amsterdam, June, 2006
Grants:
ESRC Seminar series interdisciplinary application with health and addictions. Awarded 2009.