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]

Firestone Assessment of Violent Thoughts
Purposeused to assess violent thought

Levels

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

Theoretical Subscales

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

Development and Research

edit

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

edit

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

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ (Firestone & Firestone, PAR, 2007)
  2. ^ "PAR | FAVT, FAVT-A | Firestone Assessment of Violent Thoughts". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  3. ^ "PAR | FAVT, FAVT-A | Firestone Assessment of Violent Thoughts". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  4. ^ "Learning from the Fort Hood Tragedy: Comments from an Expert on Suicide and Violence". HuffPost. 18 March 2010.
  5. ^ "PAR | FAVT, FAVT-A | Firestone Assessment of Violent Thoughts". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  6. ^ "Welcome to the Glendon Association". Archived from the original on 2009-11-21. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  7. ^ "Welcome to the Glendon Association". Archived from the original on 2009-11-21. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  8. ^ Walker, J.S., & Gudjonsson, G.H. (2006). The Maudsley violence questionnaire: relationship to personality and self-reported offending. Personality and Individual Differences, 40(4), 795-806.
  9. ^ "PAR | FAVT, FAVT-A | Firestone Assessment of Violent Thoughts". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  10. ^ "PAR | FAVT, FAVT-A | Firestone Assessment of Violent Thoughts". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  11. ^ Walker, J.S., & Bright, J.A. (2009)
  12. ^ "Welcome to the Glendon Association". Archived from the original on 2009-11-21. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  13. ^ Cognitive therapy for violence: reaching the parts that anger management doesn't reach. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 20(2), 174 - 201.
  14. ^ "PAR | FAVT, FAVT-A | Firestone Assessment of Violent Thoughts". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  15. ^ "Psychological Assessment Products | PAR".
  16. ^ "Psychological Assessment Products | PAR".
edit