Firestone Assessment of Violent Thoughts

The Firestone Assessment of Violent Thoughts (FAVT) is a psychiatric assessment tool published by PAR in 2008 by Robert W. Firestone and Lisa Firestone designed to predict violent thoughts that may ultimately lead to violent behavior.[1][2] The FAVT can be given in interview format by a psychological professional or in written format and is administered in 15 minutes.[3] FAVT items are organized into five levels and two theoretical subscales. These levels and subscales allow a better understanding of the individual in order to offer more targeted treatment.[4]

Levels

  1. Paranoid/Suspicious
  2. Persecuted Misfit
  3. Self-deprecating/Pseudo-independent
  4. Self-aggrandizing
  5. Overly aggressive

Theoretical Subscales

  1. Instrumental/Proactive violence
  2. Hostile/Reactive violence

Development and Research

The FAVT is a brief self-report assessment tool established on the principle that one's thought processes influence one's potential for violent behavior.[5] Psychologists Robert W. Firestone and Lisa Firestone developed the concept of an inner "voice" within a person's mind which commentatates and criticizes the individual and others, and this voice plays a role in violent thoughts.[6] The "voice" and subsequent violent thoughts prime violent behavior and can be used to assess risk factor for violent and aggressive behavior.[7][8]

The research process in designing the FAVT included data gathered on 639 prisoners, parolees, and domestic violence perpetrators.[9] The Glendon Association's research has found that the FAVT can be used to distinguish between violent and nonviolent individuals.[10][11][12][13] A pilot study was performed and results indicated that the FAVT was able to distinguish between adolescents with a history of violence and those without such a history.[14]

FAVT-A

The Firestone Assessment of Violent Thoughts–Adolescent (FAVT-A) uses the same principles and research as the FAVT, but is designed for adolescents ages 11–18 years.[15] The 35 FAVT-A items are organized into the same five levels and two theoretical subscales as the FAVT.[16]

See also

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/4/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.