NCJ Number
209914
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 13 Issue: 3/4 Dated: 2004 Pages: 57-82
Date Published
2004
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the descriptive and empirical research relevant to identifying subtypes of children with sexual behavior problems and adolescents who commit sexual offenses.
Abstract
The article first reviews research on typologies of youth who sexually offend. Based on this research, the author then describes and compares five clinical typologies and two empirical typologies. Perhaps the best known of the clinically derived typologies developed for "children with sexual behavior problems" (CSBPs) is the "Continuum of Sexual Behaviors in Children" developed by Johnson (Johnson, 1993, 1999, 2000; Johnson and Feldmeth, 1993). The most severe category in the continuum, "children who molest," refers to children who have "coercive sexual behaviors far beyond developmentally appropriate childhood exploration." The sexual behaviors of these children are pervasive, increase over time, and span the full spectrum of sexual behaviors. Recent randomized clinical trials are the first attempts to construct typologies of CSBPs based on empirical data. This article reviews these studies. This is followed by a review of an example of a clinically derived typology for adolescents who offend sexually and a presentation of several of the preliminary efforts to establish empirically derived typologies. This review affirms that typologies are helpful in identifying the characteristics of CSBPs and adolescents who offend sexually, understanding the risk factors that motivate their behaviors, and guiding the selection of treatment goals and appropriate interventions. The article concludes that CSBPs and adolescents who offend sexually are diverse groups. Although clinical typologies that describe these children and adolescents are useful tools that aid assessment, recent empirical typologies provide objective data to help clinicians identify and assess the sexual behaviors, child characteristics, psychological functioning, and family dynamics of various subtypes of children. These data can be incorporated within the context of a multidimensional framework, i.e., the Trauma Outcome Process model, to assess CSBPs and adolescents who offend sexually, plan treatment, and implement interventions tailored to the specific needs of each subtype. 55 references