NCJ Number
115029
Date Published
1989
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This chapter provides clinicians with a basic understanding of the physiological and psychosocial characteristics of the child molester, discusses diagnostic assessment techniques, and explains selected treatment modalities.
Abstract
Finkelhor's model of child molesters is the most comprehensive, encompassing four nonexclusive factors: emotional congruence, sexual arousal, blockage, and disinhibition. Emotional congruence theories imply that the molester's sexual attraction to children fulfills his special emotional needs. Other theories pertain to the notion that relating to a child is exceptionally sexually arousing for some child molesters. Blockage theories are based on the proposition that child molesters have chronic or episodic difficulty in gaining emotional and sexual satisfaction from adult partners. Disinhibition theories focus on why some persons overcome the strong legal and moral proscriptions against sexual activity with children. Child molester classification systems generally distinguish between the following factors: preference versus situational, incest versus nonincest, violent versus nonviolent, males versus females, and juvenile versus adult. Endocrine and psychosocial characteristics also distinguish child molesters. Assessment involves the clinical interview, psychological testing, physiological assessment, and integration of assessment data. Treatment involves organic approaches, psychotherapy, behavioral approaches, and psychosocial education. Treatment effectiveness depends on a number of factors, including offender motivation, the length of time the behavior has persisted, life-management skills, and heterosocial skills. 88 references.