NCJ Number
116801
Journal
Journal of Offender Counseling, Services & Rehabilitation Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: (1988) Pages: 27-37
Date Published
1988
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This article proposes that adolescent child molesters universally engage in the defense processes of distortion and lying to avoid the adverse consequences of acknowledging their offense.
Abstract
Clinical data were derived from evaluations of 42 adolescent child molesters seen at a Boston outpatient mental health center. Adolescent child molesters were seen individually and then in group therapy on a weekly basis. The length of stay in the evaluation program ranged from 4 weeks to 4 years, depending on client needs and progress. Client ages ranged from 12 to 20 years. Six responses were used most frequently by adolescents when confronted with their offense: 1) denied having committed the offense and offered alternative explanations; 2) denied they had anything to do with the offense but offered no alternative explanations; 3) avoided important facts through excessive elaboration on related but insignificant aspects of the offense; 4) adopted an offensive stance toward the interviewer by means of verbal attack; 5) refused to discuss anything with the interviewer; and 6) used the 'failure to remember' strategy. It was determined that the processes of lying and distortion are similar and interactive. Specialized treatment should involve a combination of confrontative and fear-reducing strategies to combat these processes. 9 references. (Author abstract modified)