Hostile attribution bias (HAB) is a well-documented cognitive tendency to perceive ambiguous social cues as hostile, contributing to aggressive behaviors and poor interpersonal outcomes. Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) seeks to enhance the capacity to reflect on one's own and others' mental states. Its psychoeducational module appears promising for individuals whose cognitive biases impair their ability to accurately infer intentions. Recent work suggests that this module may attenuate HAB among incarcerated women. However, their findings were limited by a small sample and reliance on qualitative data.


The present study builds on this foundation by implementing a six-session psychoeducational module of MBT in a Quebec detention facility for incarcerated women. Participants (n = 14) attended three days of structured workshops and completed pre- and post-intervention assessments, including self-reported questionnaires and a neurocognitive task. Questionnaires measured hostile attributions (Ambiguous Intentions and Hostility Questionnaire), hostile versus benign interpretations (Word Sentence Association Paradigm-Hostility), and mentalization ability (Mentalization Scale). The Hostile Expectancy Violation Task (HEVT) assesses neural responses to ambiguous social scenarios by measuring the N400, an event-related potential that emerges when revealed intentions contradict initial expectations. This paradigm offers a valid, real-time measure of HAB that is independent of conscious control, reducing susceptibility to response biases and capturing the spontaneous processes underlying attributional tendencies.


Our presentation will discuss the feasibility and potential impact of short-term psychoeducational MBT modules in correctional settings, emphasizing the integration of self-reported and neurocognitive outcomes. This design allowed us to assess both subjective and objective indicators of change in hostile attribution tendencies and mentalization. ERP measures provide novel insights into whether such changes are reflected in neural responses to ambiguous social scenarios. By advancing beyond qualitative accounts, this research contributes to the development of scalable, evidence-based strategies aimed at reducing aggression-related biases and supporting rehabilitation efforts in correctional populations.