Seattle University Collaborative Projects - International Academy of ...

violent behaviour (Nadelhoffer et al., 2012). In this presentation, we will discuss the biologicalmechanisms that play a role in violent and aggressive behaviour. In particular, the role of thehuman stress response as well as the executive functioning systems in such behaviour will beintroduced. The fight-or-flight response, how our brain activates and de-activates adrenaline, aswell as how we manage instincts and urges will all be discussed as they relate to violence. Themore complex and higher level executive functioning tasks including decision making, learningfrom experience, and understanding cause-effect reasoning will also be examined in the contextof violent behaviour. Exploration and understanding of these processes will enable us to adopt abiopsychosocial perspective of violence, through which we can better tailor the way we intervenewith violent offenders.A Bio-Psycho-Social Perspective on Interventions for Violent OffendersJacqueline Pei, University of Alberta (jpei@ualberta.ca)In order to most effectively and appropriately provide interventions for violent offenders, it iscrucial to understand the mechanisms underlying violent behaviour. As argued in the previouspresentation, there is a need to reconceptualise our understanding of violence and aggression asbiopsychosocial processes whereby brain systems such as stress response and executivefunctioning play a critical role. From this biologically-informed perspective, the currentpresentation will discuss intervention strategies that address the underlying brain factorsinfluencing violent and aggressive behaviour. Interventions such as meta-cognitive and selfregulationstrategies, mindfulness, and meditation will be introduced and their potential in thetreatment of violent offenders will be explored. We will also discuss how embedding a biologicalperspective into our interventions for violent offenders has the potential to reduce violentresponse patterns and improve outcomes for these individuals.ADHD, Executive Functioning Skills: Implications for a Program for IntimatePartner Violence PreventionGabrielle Fraser, Concordia University College (fraser.gabrielle@gmail.com)Modern theories of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) emphasize the substantialrole that executive functioning (EF) plays within the disorder. ADHD and its associatedexecutive dysfunctions have been linked in literature to patterns of spousal/partner abuse andbattering. This paper will describe ADHD in the context of EF deficits and how they manifestthemselves in abusive behaviors. Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning – AdultVersion (BRIEF-A) scores were obtained from 230 Canadian men who were enrolled in theReaching for a Good Life program, which targets abusive behaviors. A statistical analysisrevealed significant differences in areas of EF between men who completed the programmingand those who did not. Further analysis of the BRIEF-A scores also indicates that they can be50