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Juvenile offenders recidivism rate
Can a pedophile be treated
The effects on children with pedophilia
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The prevalence of pedophiles, or those attracted to young children, is believed to be roughly 5% of the U.S. population (Seto, 2009). The relationships formed with children by these pedophilic individuals may seem beneficial to the perpetrators; however, the young victims are scarred for life. Abused children face short and long-term problems including anxiety, fear, anger, depression, shame, and poor self-esteem (Murray, 2000). The best way for society to counteract these detrimental side affects is to tackle the offenders. However, current treatments for pedophilia have been far from helpful, some of which include psychotherapy, behavior therapy, surgery, and medication (Berlin & Krout, 1994; Repique, 1999). While some of these treatments are effective, they are also unethical. In addition, of those that can be used, very few keep the recidivism rates down. Booxbaum and Burton (2013) discovered that only 70% of participants had attempted to stop, decrease, or slow down their sexual abuse towards children and only 56% of those individuals were able to stop temporarily. However, if the origin of pedophilia is correctly identified, treatments can be refined in order for them to be more effective rather than focusing on changing sexual preferences (Seto, 2012). To begin truly understanding the etiology of pedophilia, the characteristics of this first must be addressed. Defining Pedophilia Pedophilia is commonly defined as sexual attraction to prepubescent children, within the age range of 13 years or younger, with no attraction to adults (Seto, 2012; Murray, 2000). Within the U.S., an adult having sexual contact with a minor is illegal (Seto, 2004). However, pedophilia can be seen across cultures all well as throughout history. In... ... middle of paper ... ... and bisexual pedophiles reported having a later birth order compared to that of heterosexual pedophiles. This association has also been addressed by Langevin et al. (2007) in a population of 1,823 paraphilic males. Langevin et al. (2007) concluded that homosexual and bisexual pedophiles report a higher birth order to that of heterosexual pedophiles. In general, sexual offenders and paraphilics, or individuals interested in exhibitionism, pedophilia, transvestitism, and androphilia, reported larger families as well as more siblings (Langevin et al., 2007). Langevin et al. (2007) concluded that birth order is not only applicable to homosexual men, but to paraphilic individuals as well. Bogaert et al. (1997) and Langevin et al. (2007) successfully linked age-preference and sexual orientation to birth order and provided substantial evidence to the biological etiology.
Worling, J .(2012). The assessment and treatment of deviant sexual arousal with adolescents who have offended sexually. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 18(1), 36-63. doi: 10.1080/13552600.2011.630152
Offenders are able to identify weaknesses in a child’s personality or life circumstances and then exploit them. There can be many different characteristics a Child Molester or Pedophile uses for their selection process. The characteristics are the foll...
Our text describes pedophilia as a person who “gains sexual gratification by watching, touching, or engaging in sexual acts with prepubescent children, usually 13 years old or younger” (Comer, 2013, p. 411). The movie, The Woodsman describes the story of a convicted sex offender recently released from prison. Walter, depicted by Kevin Bacon shed some insight into the motivations and thought processes that a sex offender, specifically a pedophile might have.
Jenny, C., Roesler, T. A., & Poyer, K. L. (1994). Are children at risk for sexual abuse by homosexuals? Pediatrics, 94(1), 41-44.
Based on an article by the National Alert Registry by Dr. Herbert Wagemaker, four percent of the population suffers from sexual orientation toward children. In 1999, 93,000 kids were sexually abused. 50% of the abusers were parents of th...
These measures may include relapse therapy, a common therapy for alcoholics; adverse conditioning, which makes a pedophile associate their desires for children with something negative like shock therapy; and chemical castration, where pedophiles may be forced to take drugs to lower their sexual drive (Pedophilia: A Guide to the Disorder). Society strongly alienates those who have this attraction towards children, leaving them to find ways to cope on their own which may actually drive them to act on their attractions more than if they had help. Society also refuses to see pedophilia as a mental illness (a paraphilia much like bestiality; sadism; and frotteurism) instead of a choice an adult actively decides to have. Even in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) 5, the line between the potential criminal implications and the psychology of a Pedophilic disorder was not drawn. Moreover, there is nothing to be said that marks a Pedophilic disorder as anything but a criminal case of child sexual abuse rather than a psychiatric condition. However, the DSM-5 has stated that if a pedophile’s persistent sexual attraction towards children causes “distress or some other significant difficulties” (Berlin), there is proper evidence of a disorder. This is very contradicting, but many other disorders follow the same rubric for diagnosis; they have to hinder a
In Nathan’s situation, he is a 39-year-old Caucasian male, is under intensive supervision since he is a pedophile. He was involved with two previous relationships in which one of the women was his wife. However, he is depressed because of the loss of the relationship from the victim Mark that he sexually assaulted. When he was arrested, he was found with adult porn. Addressing these issues by designing a treatment plan can be a solution in reducing him or any others like him from reoffending.
The causes of pedophilia can be ascribed to both biological and environmental factors. Cerebral dysfunction can be a causal factor of pedophilia including issues with self-control, extreme urges, and cognitive distortions (Miller, 2012). For this reason, the self-control theory of criminal behavior can best explain this coach’s crime. The self-control theory also labeled the general theory of crime implies that lack of individual self-control is the main element of criminal behavior. As Miller (2012) explains, those individuals with “low self-control are highly impulsive, egocentric, action-orientated, thrill-seeking, frustration tolerant” … (p.71).
Thousands of sex abuse cases with children are disclosed in the U.S. every year. The actual amount of young people that are raped and molested is even higher. But as laws change frequently, it’s still a mystery on how to treat sex offenders to prevent such crimes. “Sex offender programs/strategies represent various approaches used to prevent convicted sex offenders from committing future sex offenses. These approaches include different types of therapy, community notification, and standardized assessments (CSOM).” Most programs are held in prison and/or in the community to manage sex offenders (Olver). Approaches that can help prevent these crimes are, the cognitive-behavioral approach, which focuses on changing the thinking patterns related to sexual assaulting and also altering evil ways of sexual behavior. The psycho-educational approach is another approach, which focuses on increasing offenders' empathy for the victim while also teaching them to take responsibility for their sexual offenses. Standardized assessment tools are also highly effective, ultimately used to increase the likelihood of treatment efficacy and/or to identify individuals at high risk of reoffending. With these approaches, “it is important to include all partners who may be involved in the management of sex offenders such as law enforcement, corrections, victims’ organizations, treatment programs, courts, prosecutors and other stakeholders. These partners can provide valuable information in assessing the effectiveness and efficacy of sex offender programs and strategies (O’Donnell).”
Sexuality is shaped by gender because gender in itself is a social construct. Sex is based on genetics, on whether or not you have a XX chromosome or a XY chromosome. Gender on the other hand is socially constructed. It’s how we perceive each other. For example, girls have long hair and wear pink but boys have short hair and are to be tough. Sexuality is further shaped by this because with gender, the world has only really ever had two categories, female and male, when really there could be more or there could be less.
Author Jock Sturges quotes (Sturges), “What pedophiles and people who have sexual desires for children lose sight of to a terrible, terrible degree- a devastating degree- is that their victims are real people who will suffer forever, due to whatever abuses are perpetrated on them.”
The United States Bureau of Justice Statistics (2011) reveals an estimated 747,408 sex offenders were registered in the United States as of 2010. This number shows an increase of over seven thousand from the previous year. According to Vivian-Bryne (2004), therapeutic treatment for sex offenders is one approach to address the issue of sexual offense and reduce numbers. Although the idea of therapeutic treatment for sex offenders can raise skepticism, a myriad of therapeutic treatment models are available (Polizzi, MacKenzie & Hickman, 1999). This paper will establish the important complexities surrounding therapeutic treatment of sex offenders, including treatment effectiveness, challenges of treatment schemas, and recidivism. Peer reviewed articles regarding therapeutic treatment for sex offenders will be reviewed and the validity of these sources will be discussed.
Paedophilia is a concept which has changed throughout the eras the beliefs and attitudes towards paedophilia is something that is seen as a very difficult subject. Social standards are extremely influential when it comes to deciding what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour for a society and over time especially within the western world this is one of the things that have crossed boundaries and become a topic of debate for a variety of cultures. Paedophilia is considered to be an abnormal or unnatural attraction towards children. Throughout this essay there will be an attempt to discuss the constructions that surround the notion of paedophilia with focus on the social and psychological aspects. Firstly it is important to understand the history of paedophilia to be able to fully explore the explanations which we will be presented later on in this essay. Dating back to as far as the Roman and Greek eras where relationships between children and adults were accepted and portrayed as forms of mentorship. Up until the age of enlightenment, there was little more known than the naturalistic approach to maturity and sexuality. La Fontaine, (1990) states a paedophile is generally defined as a person who gains sexual gratification from contact with pre-pubescent children, this is a supported definition from various academics. According to the ICD-10 manual, Paedophilia is ‘a sexual preference for children, boys, girls or both usually of pre-pubertal or early pubertal age’. A person 16 years of age or older meets the definition if they have a persistent or predominant sexual preference for prepubescent children at least five years younger than themselves. Alter...
Sexual deviance is any behavior with a sexual act that goes against the expectations of the society in which the act was performed. To be considered deviant, there are usually consent issues, the people or things involved create a deviant combination, the specific sexual act and anatomy is outside the realm of socially acceptable, or the place involved is unacceptable (Ritzer, 2007). In American society, it appears according to media accounts, billboard advertisements, and daily observation of the people passing by, sex is bought, sold, and traded in the open market; however, just because we see it everywhere, does not mean that it is socially acceptable. As we learned in the Tittle and Paternoster (2000) article, indiscretion is the deviance
It is most important to understand that children and teens of all racial, religious, ethnic, gender and age groups, at all socio-economic levels are sexually abused. Although there are risk factors that may increase the possibility of sexual abuse, sex abuse can be found in all types of families, communities, and cultures (The Scope of, 2016). Childhood sexual abuse is an important issue to address because the impact of sexual does not end when the abuse ends. Childhood trauma follows into adulthood and can have long-range effects. “Survivors of sexual abuse are at significantly greater risks for severe and chronic mental health issues, including alcoholism, depression, anxiety, PTSD and high risk behaviors” (The Scope Of, 2016). Victims may experience traumatic sexualization, or the shaping of their sexuality in “developmentally inappropriate” and “interpersonally dysfunctional” ways (Effects of Child, 2012). “A child who is the victim of prolonged sexual abuse usually develops low self-esteem, a feeling of worthlessness and an abnormal or distorted view of sex. The child may become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults, and can become suicidal” (Effects of Child, 2012). Overall, the effects and impact of childhood sexual abuse are long lasting and do not diminish when the abuse ends, their childhood trauma follows them into