In this essay, two theories specifically focusing on sexual offending against children are compared and critical evaluated. Finkelhor’s (1984) Precondition model integrates four underlying factors that might explain the occurrence of child sexual abuse and categorizes them into four preconditions: motivation to offend, overcoming internal inhibitors, overcoming external inhibitors and overcoming child’s resistance that occur in a temporal sequence where each is necessary for the other to develop. The Precondition model provides a framework for assessment of child molesters but is criticized for a lack of aetiological explanations and for paying to little attention to cognitive factors. Ward’s (2003) Pathways model suggest that clinical phenomena evident among child sex offenders are generated by four distinct and interacting mechanisms: intimacy and social skills deficits, distorted sexual scripts, emotional dysregulation and cognitive distortions where each mechanism generates a specific offence pathway. Both theories have been influential in providing treatment goals and informing clinical assessment of child sexual abusers. Finkelhor´s precondition model (1984) is widely recognized in the literature as a groundbreaking theory in the fact that it represents the first attempt at incorporating multi-factorial explanations to account for sexual offending against children (Howell, 1994; Marshal, 1996; Ward & Hudson, 1998). Finkelhor (1984) argues that child molestation is a complex phenomena caused by a variety of psychological, sociological and cultural factors. In order to explain differences within perpetrators as well as situational aspects of the offence, Finkelhor (1984) proposes four preconditions that need to bee met in ... ... middle of paper ... ...y of multiple dysfunctional mechanisms, or ‘pure’ pedophiles – those with a primary sexual interest in children, consisting of individuals who portrait elements of all the pathways discussed above: deviant sexual scripts; distorted ideas about children’s sexuality; intimacy deficits and; dysfunctional emotional regulation. Ward & Siegert (2002) argue that their attempt to build on existing theoretical work such as Finkelhor’s (1984) Precondition model, the Pathway model constitutes a multifactorial theory evident in fact that it addresses psychological, contextual and biological mechanisms in its claim that vulnerability to sexually offend against a child originates from various learning, cultural and psychological variables. Both of the models mentioned above have some clinical utility and can be used in the assessment and treatment of child molesters.
An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today (Darness2Light, 2009a ). This figure continues to grow daily as perpetrators of this crime continue in this destructive path. The definition of child sexual abuse is the force, coercion, or cajoling of children into sexual activities by a dominant adult or adolescent. Sexual abuse of children includes touching (physical) sexually including: fondling; penetration (vaginal or anal using fingers, foreign objects or offenders organs; oral sex, or non-physical contact including: sexual comments; indecent exposures; masturbating in a child’s presence; child prostitution or child pornography (Child Welfare, 2009a).
Child sexual abuse is defined as “the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared, or else that violates the laws or social taboos of society” (Ajduković, Sušac, and Rajter 470). In Bastard out of Carolina, Ruth Ann “Bone” Boatwright started experiencing sexual child abuse from her stepfather at the age of twelve, which changed aspects of her life forever. Coincidentally, it was proven through research that young girls between the ages of 13 and 16 suffered sexual abuse by adult men that they knew previously (Ajduković, Sušac, and Rajter 475). While it could be a family member, an acquaintance, or a friend, the feelings of betrayal remain the same.
When the three-path model was tested, the pattern in relations among traits in adults and juvenile sexual offenders was consistent (Knight & Knight, 2005). The proposal is that three personality traits define the three paths that lead to violent sexual behavior: sexual drive/ preoccupation, anti-social behavior, and callousness/unemotionality. These traits are amplified by early childhood physical/verbal and sexual abuse. In one path, early childhood physical/verbal abuse strengthens the development of arrogance, deceitfulness, and emotional detachment. In another path, early childhood physical/verbal abuse augments aggressive and antisocial behavior, sensation seeking, impulsive acting out, and alcohol and drug abuse. The individuals who fit in this category typically commit multiple offenses that are not exclusive to sexual violence. Still, a third path is influenced by childhood sexual abuse and leads to sexual preoccupation and compulsivity that increases the risk of aggressive sexual fantasies and behavior. While a combination of risk factors and biological predispositions are causal to criminal offending, abuse is merely one of those factors but it does frequently show up in the background of sex offenders (Bartol & Batrol, 2014, p.
Despite the effect of one’s morals and upbringing upon their actions, in extreme cases biology of the brain has a great effect on distinguishing between proper and improper. There is a spectrum between proper and improper, it is not all black and white. For example, not tipping well at a restaurant and child molestation are both seen as improper, but child molestation is significantly worse. A person that commits child molestation is not doing so simply because of external factors, but instead because something is malfunctioning in their
Pedophilia is defined as “an ongoing sexual attraction toward prepubescent children” (Tenbergen et al., 2015, p. 1). People with pedophilia are often described as a dangerous criminal. People among this category were considered as a category of offenders, by the criminal justice system, among the highest priority for the system to manage and maintain (Lynch, 2002). The differing views between psychologists and the criminal justice system has been a long drawn out debate. Pedophilia is considered a disorder in the DSM V, but by the criminal justice system it is viewed as one of the worst crimes a human being could commit, needing the most severe punishment.
Sex offenders come across every race, age, gender, socio-economic status, and mental health status (CSG, n.d.). According to CSOM (n.d.) many scholars do not take into consideration the age, gender and socio-economic status as far as the criminal behavior itself, however many scholars look at factors that may have caused these sexual deviant behaviors. These theories or factors are attachment, sociocultural, intimacy, behavioral, and biological (CSOM, n.d.). It is also worthy to note, that the difference between juveniles and adult are there recidivism rate. According to CSOM (n.d.), juveniles are more likely to reoffend than adult sex
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).”
There are several identifiable psychological factors that increase the likelihood an individual will demonstrate deviant sexual behavior. One of the most important contributing factors is physical or sexual abuse endured as a child. According to Becerra-García, García-León and Egan (2012), sex offenders are twice as likely to report being sexually, emotionally, or physically abused as a child in comparison to other offenders. There are also other factors besides abuse that must be taken into consideration. A recent study on female sex offenders by Roe-Sepowitz and Krysik (2008) states, “the data reveal that many of the 118 female juvenile sex offenders came from chaotic and disorganized families and had poor parental supervision and serious school and mental health problems”. As Becerra-García, García-León and Egan (2012) discuss further, there are also personality traits that sex offenders are likely to possess, which makes it possible for psychologists to distinguish general characteristics of sex offenders. These personality traits can be identified using the Five Factor Model, which scales an individual’s level of neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.
Witt, P., Greenfield, D., & Hiscox, S. (2008). Cognitive/behavioural approaches to the treatment adult sex offenders. Journal of Psychiatry & Law, 36(2), 245-269, retrieved from EBSCOhost
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...
There is no “standard” sexual offender. Child molesters and rapists come from a multitude of backgrounds and are most often seen as law abiding individuals. In most cases, offenders are male; however, there have been cases of females committing sexual offences reported in the past (Schaffer, Jeglic, Moster & Wnuk, 2010). This treatment manual will focus on the male sexual offender population; they may vary in age, from youth to senior citizens. In fact, more than half of the adult male sexual offender population began offending in their teens (Terry, 2004). This program will feature a ‘rolling group’, this allows individuals to be at different stages in the program which will allow for patients to ease into the program at their own pace.
Many etiological theories exist attempting to explain the root causes of sexual offending. Although few provide substantial evidence and no definitive conclusions have been made, the social learning theory has been proposed to account for sex offending behaviors. Specifically, the social learning theory, or victim-to-victimizer theory, suggests sexually abused children learn these behaviors and are much more likely to perpetrate abuse when they’re older (Seto & Lalumiere, 2010). The following studies have provided substantial support for the social learning etiology. Through the use of a meta-analysis, Seto and Lalumiere (2010) concluded that sexual offending is tied to prior sexual abuse. Burton, Miller, and Shill (2002) discovered significant differences between sexual offending and nonsexual offending adolescents in the areas of sexual abuse. Lastly, Burton (2003) determined that sex offender’s methods of abuse mimicked that which was done to them. The introduction, method, results, and discussion of each study is addressed and the link between prior sexual abuse and future sex offending behaviors become apparent.
Seto, M. & Barbaree, H. (1999). Psychopathy, Treatment Behavior, and Sex Offender Recidivism. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 14, pp.1235-1248
Sexual abuse cannot be clearly defined with ease. In fact, sexual abuse is an umbrella term for any sort of situation, whether or not it involves physical contact, in which a sexually immature child is exposed to anything sexual in nature. Because no child is psychologically mature enough for sexual stimulation, the complex feelings associated with it are mentally and emotionally disfiguring. Children who have been sexually abused experience an array of negative emotions such as shame, guilt and anger, and may display oddly withdrawn or distrustful behaviors. They cannot help but feel that they somehow brought the abuse unto themselves (Saisan, et al). One major contributing factor to these severe psychological consequences is the concept of trust. Sexual abuse is, in most cases, committed by a parent or other trusted adult figure. While children are naïve on such adult topics, they can still get an overwhelming feeling that the attention is wrong, yet they are unsure of how to cope with it. If the child has an emotional atta...
Everybody’s childhood is an important time in their lives. It’s when knowledge is absorbed like a sponge and our character or personality is formed. Every serial killer has a childhood too. Three studies were taken to determine what the cause was and the first examined the effect that sexual abuse had on children. This study compared seventy five children who were never abused and sixty eight who were. The children who were previously abused showed more poor behavior then those who weren’t. It is very common to see a serial killer with depression, low self- esteem and problematic behavior and having prior abuse contributes to behavioral issues. Th...