Sacrificial letter

The victim letter serves to monitor the success of an anti-aggressiveness training (AAT) for violent criminals. It belongs to the exposure phase of treatment. Massive provocation is said to lead to an offense of the offender's vulnerable parts. The perpetrators are confronted with their justification for violence until they are ready to admit the consequences of the crime. The success of this measure is checked by a so-called victim letter. The participants should put themselves in the victim's position and describe the incident and the consequences of the crime from the victim's perspective.

A rating procedure is intended to ensure the objective evaluation of letters from victims according to seven criteria using a six-point scale:

• Admission of fact
• Assumption of responsibility
• Cognitive bias
• Recognize the evolution of the act
• Recognizing risk situations
• Victim empathy
• Recognizing the consequences of the crime for the victim

In youth jargon this curricular point is called the lacrimal gland because the perpetrators cry more often in this training phase. They cry because they are very concerned about the victim. Intense thoughts encourage dismay at the misery these young people have caused.

The fictitious sacrificial letters enable an assessment of the participant's ability to empathize . The victim's perspective forced in this way is intended to reduce denial and trivialization .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Wischka et al. (2004) in Wolfgang Berner. Treating sex offenders: with psychotherapy and medication . German medical publisher; 2007. ISBN 978-3-7691-1235-1 . p. 40-.
2. ↑ Jens Weidner. AAT - anti-aggressiveness training for violent criminals: a crime-specific treatment offer in youth prisons . BoD - Books on Demand; 2008. ISBN 978-3-936999-42-6 . p. 22-.
3. ↑ Katharina Claudia Manzinger: Change of attitude (crime-specific) of sex offenders through psychotherapeutic treatment concepts in social-therapeutic departments. Dissertation Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, March 2010 p. 37

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !