Reducing Crime and Violence: Experimental Evidence from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Liberia

We show that a number of noncognitive skills and preferences, including patience and identity, are malleable in adults, and that investments in them reduce crime and violence. We recruited criminally engaged men and randomized one-half to eight weeks of cognitive behavioral therapy designed to foste...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American economic review 2017-04, Vol.107 (4), p.1165-1206
Main Authors: Blattman, Christopher, Jamison, Julian C., Sheridan, Margaret
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggression
Antisocial behavior
Behavior modification
Cash
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral factors
Crime - prevention & control
Crime prevention
Crime reduction
Criminal behavior
Grants
Health technology assessment
Humans
Identity
Liberia
Lifestyles
Male
Men
P values
Patience
Peer Group
Rehabilitation of criminals
Self control
Self regulation
Social identity
Standard deviation
Statistical significance
Violence
Violence - prevention & control
Violent crime
Violent crimes
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Summary:We show that a number of noncognitive skills and preferences, including patience and identity, are malleable in adults, and that investments in them reduce crime and violence. We recruited criminally engaged men and randomized one-half to eight weeks of cognitive behavioral therapy designed to foster self-regulation, patience, and a noncriminal identity and lifestyle. We also randomized $200 grants. Cash alone and therapy alone initially reduced crime and violence, but effects dissipated over time. When cash followed therapy, crime and violence decreased dramatically for at least a year. We hypothesize that cash reinforced therapy's impacts by prolonging learning-by-doing, lifestyle changes, and self-investment.
ISSN:0002-8282
1944-7981
DOI:10.1257/aer.20150503