What are the pathways to the treatment of sexual offenders?
Pathways to the treatment of sexual offenders: Rethinking intervention. Forum, Summer. Beaverton, OR: Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, 1–9. Yates, P. M.(2007). Taking the leap: Abandoning relapse prevention and applying the self-regulation model to the treatment of sexual offenders.
Are sexual offenders goal-directed?
Briefly, the GLM proposes that, like other human beings, sexual offenders are goal-directed and seek to acquire fundamental primary human goods, defined as actions, experiences, and activities that are intrinsically beneficial to individual well-being and that are sought for their own sake (Ward & Gannon, 2006; Ward & Stewart, 2003).
Should we target cognitive distortions in treating sexual offenders?
Targeting cognitive distortions (Abel, Becker, & Cunningham-Rathner, 1984; Barbaree, 1991) has historically been a common component of sexual offender treatment.
How has the treatment of sexual offenders changed over time?
Treatment of sexual offenders has evolved substantially over the years; various theoretical and practice models of treatment been developed, modified, refined, and proposed over time.
Abstract
Sexual offenders who deny their offences present many challenges to treatment providers, case managers, and other stakeholders. Recent results from research have suggested denial may not be a criminogenic target for sex offenders.
References (0)
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
What is the focus of treatment for sexual offending?
The focus of treatment is on altering patterns of behavioral, cognitive, and affective responding associated with sexual offending, such that such problematic, deviant, and/or criminal behavioral patterns and responses are replaced with adaptive, non-deviant, pro-social responding.
What are offense related goals?
Offense-related goals include both inhibitory or avoidance goals ( i.e., directed toward avoidance of undesired states or outcomes) and appetitive or approach goals (i.e., directed toward the attainment of desired states and outcomes).
What does it mean when treatment adheres to these principles?
Specifically, meta-analytic research indicates that, when treatment adheres to these principles, it is associated with reduced sexual re-offending.
Is research support strong for the application of the RNR model and its principles?
Research support is strong for the application of the RNR model and its principles, and indicates that treatment that complies with these principles is superior to treatment that does not adhere to these principles and to criminal sanctions alone.
Do low risk offenders need specialized treatment?
In fact, low risk offenders likely do not require specialized treatment at all, and will benefit from routine supervision ( Andrews & Bonta, 2010; Hanson & Yates, 2013 ). Adherence to the risk principle, in addition to being the best use of limited resources, demonstrates that treatment is most effective when its level of intensity is matched ...
How do sex offender treatment programs work?
Most sex offender treatment programs devote significant time to overcoming denial, with most programs having a focus on disclosure and "accepting responsibility.". This is the first study that has aimed to make sense of sexual offenders' denial through a rigorous qualitative analysis.
How is sexual offending understood?
Sex offending is typically understood from a pathology perspective with the origin of the behavior thought to be within the offending individual. Such a perspective may not be beneficial for those seeking to desist from sexual offending and reintegrate into mainstream society. A thematic analysis of 32 self-narratives of men convicted of sexual offences against children suggests that such individuals typically explain their pasts utilizing a script consistent with routine activity theory, emphasizing the role of circumstantial changes in both the onset of and desistance from sexual offending. It is argued that the self-framing of serious offending in this way might be understood as a form of ?shame management,? a protective cognition that enables desistance by shielding individuals from internalizing stigma for past violence.
What is cognitive distortion?
The notion of ‘cognitive distortion’ has become enshrined in the offender treatment literature over the last 20 years, yet the concept still suffers from a lack of definitional clarity. In particular, the umbrella term is often used to refer to offence-supportive attitudes, cognitive processing during an offence sequence, as well as post-hoc neutralisations or excuses for offending. Of these very different processes, the last one might be the most popular and problematic. Treatment programmes for offenders often aim to eliminate excuse-making as a primary aim, and decision-makers place great weight on the degree to which an offender “takes responsibility” for his or her offending. Yet, the relationship between these after-the-fact explanations and future crime is not at all clear. Indeed, the designation of post hoc excuses as criminogenic may itself be an example of fallacious thinking. After all, outside of the criminal context, post hoc excuse-making is widely viewed as normal, healthy, and socially rewarded behaviour. We argue that the open exploration of contextual risk factors leading to offending can help in the identification of criminogenic factors as well as strengthen the therapeutic experience. Rather than insist that offenders take “responsibility” for the past, we suggest that efforts should focus on helping them take responsibility for the future, shifting the therapeutic focus from post hoc excuses to offence-supportive attitudes and underlying cognitive schemas that are empirically linked to re-offending.
What is the purpose of assessment and treatment for offence-related distress and denial of responsibility?
Assessment and treatment for offence-related distress and denial of responsibility should be offered to all offence groups. Offenders would benefit from structured interventions to manage difficulties associated with maladaptive personality traits, including chronic distress and self-blame.
What is the denial of offenses and minimization of offending behavior?
A review of empirical studies of offenders—particularly sex offenders, and more particularly those who offend against children—demonstrates that denial of offenses and minimization of offending behavior are quite common at every stage of the criminal justice process.
What is the association between distress and denial of responsibility?
The association of distress and denial of responsibility with maladaptive personality traits and self-esteem in offenders. This study aimed to examine the relationship of offenders' distress and responsibility with maladaptive personality traits, self-esteem, and offence-type.
How does denial of sexual offending affect probation?
Denial of sexual offending is complex, and can hinder the development of a positive working relationship between an offender and the probation officer managing their case ; it can also impact on the offender’s wider life experience as they are stranded between their past offending and creating a new offence-free life. The theory of the Good Lives Model can be used as a tool to reduce both the tensions in this professional relationship and enable the offender to move forward, both in addressing their behaviour and establishing a non-offending life.