Evaluating the Effectiveness of Empathy Training for Women in Prison in Iran: An Exploratory Trial of an Empathy Training Group for Its Impact on Aggression, Moral Disengagement and Moral Identity

ABSTRACT

Background

Empathy deficits are linked to antisocial behaviour and low prosocial abilities. Improving capacity for empathy may help reduce aggression and support positive social engagement.

Aims

To evaluate the impact of empathy training among women in prison in Iran.

Methods

Thirty female prisoners from Kermanshah Prison, Iran, volunteered to take part and were assigned to two groups. Fifteen participants received empathy training, whereas 15 served as a control group and only completed assessments. The intervention was of eight group sessions (45–60 min each). Standardised questionnaires were administered pre- and post-intervention to assess empathy, aggression, moral identity, moral disengagement and social desirability. Gain scores for social desirability were treated as covariates in a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA).

Results

MANCOVA did not reveal statistically significant effects of empathy training. However, individual ANOVA analyses showed a significant increase in moral disengagement among the intervention group, suggesting unintended consequences.

Conclusions

This study adds to existing literature by highlighting both the challenges and risks of implementing empathy training in a prison context. Whereas results do not confirm effectiveness, at least partly because of sample size limitations, they confirm that such intervention can be implemented and evaluated safely in prison. They also show the importance of monitoring and interpreting apparent side effects. They pave the way towards larger samples and exploration of intensive interventions to foster psychological change among people in prison.