Gender violence in Spain is a public health, educational and structural problem. A comprehensive intervention aimed at both victims and aggressors is essential to combat it. In this context, penitentiary institutions have developed psychological intervention programs focused on the rehabilitation and social reintegration of aggressors.
One of these programs is reGENER@r, designed for those serving alternative measures to prison. Based on the Risk-Need-Responsibility Model and the Good Living Model, this program uses a cognitive-behavioral and gender approach. It aims to eradicate violence by addressing factors such as stereotypes, sexist beliefs, the culture of violence and the emotional problems of the participants. However, until now, no studies in Spain have evaluated its effectiveness.
For this reason, this study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of the reGENER@r program in 37 men convicted of crimes of gender violence. Variables such as emotional intelligence, emotional dependence, empathy, coping skills, gender role conflicts, sexist beliefs and justification of violence were evaluated.
The results showed that, after the intervention, cognitive avoidance as a predominant coping strategy significantly decreased. Participants began to perceive problems more realistically, favoring the search for appropriate solutions. In addition, emotional intelligence improved considerably as an indicator of a greater understanding and management of their emotions.
Significant reductions in hostile sexism, distorted thoughts about women and justification of violence were also observed. These changes promoted more respectful and egalitarian attitudes towards women and decreased the acceptance of violence as a strategy to resolve conflicts.
However, no changes were found in other variables evaluated. That indicates that although effective in some aspects, the program still requires adjustments to generate more profound and sustainable changes. In this sense, it is recommended to extend the duration of the interventions, intersperse group therapies with individual sessions and adapt the strategies according to each participant's psychosocial profile. In addition, it is essential to work on the aggressors' motivation to ensure greater commitment to and use of the program.
In conclusion, reGENER@r is a useful program for modifying key factors associated with gender-based violence. However, implementing the recommendations outlined above could enhance its effectiveness, helping to reduce recidivism and strengthening efforts to combat gender-based violence.
Reference
Sánchez, A. I., Maroto, L., Rubiano, S., Berzosa Sáez, C., Quevedo-Blasco, R., Astudillo-Reyes, K., & Martínez, M. P. (2024). Efficacy of the reGENER@r Program on Socio-Emotional Skills and Sexist Beliefs in Perpetrators of Gender-Based Violence: A Pilot Study in Spain. Behavioral Sciences, 14(12), 1194. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14121194