NCJ Number
186949
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 45 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2001 Pages: 32-50
Date Published
February 2001
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study examines the relationship among abuse history, adult attachment, and pedophilia.
Abstract
The study applied attachment theory to male university students (controls), male nonoffending victims of sexual assault, and convicted male pedophiles. It investigated adult attachment styles along with developmental histories of neglect, punishment, and sexual and physical abuse. Victims and controls experienced more security of attachment than the pedophiles, who had an insecure attachment style. Victims and pedophiles experienced similar levels of early abuse and trauma. The study suggests that attachment styles should contribute to a more fine-grained assessment procedure in developing treatment strategies for pedophiles. A confrontational therapeutic encounter could be perceived by the insecurely attached pedophile as another aversive experience with adult relationships and thus could reinforce pedophilic feelings and behaviors. A more effective treatment approach would be one that focuses initially on building rapport and facilitating and motivating the client, and then on understanding the client's developmental history and how this has influenced the client's life history and current feelings, thoughts, and behavior. In active treatment, such motivational approaches can successfully use cognitive and behavioral techniques and help the client develop relapse-prevention skills. Tables, references