Increasing Honest Responding on Cognitive Distortions in Child Molesters: The Bogus Pipeline Procedure

• NCJ Number: 233207
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 21 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2006 Pages: 358-375
• Author(s): Theresa A. Gannon
• Date Published: March 2006
• Length: 18 pages
• Publication Format: Article; Dissertation/Thesis
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study reviewed if child molesters held offense-supportive beliefs (or cognitive distortions).

Abstract

Professionals conclude that child molesters (CMs) hold offense-supportive beliefs (or cognitive distortions) from CMs'questionnaire responses. Because questionnaires are easily faked, 32 CMs were asked to complete a cognitive distortion scale under standard conditions (Time 1). A week later (Time 2), the same CMs completed the scale again. This time, approximately one half of CMs were attached to a pseudo lie detector (a bogus pipeline), and the rest completed the scale again under standard conditions (controls). At Time 1, CMs showed low cognitive distortion scores, seeming to indicate that they were faking good. At Time 2, bogus pipeline CMs seemed to believe that the apparatus could detect lies. However, this did not encourage more distorted belief disclosure compared with (a) their own previous scores and (b) controls. Furthermore, the bogus pipeline appeared to reduce cognitive distortion endorsements. The results stand in marked contrast to the common view that most CMs hold distorted beliefs. (Published Abstract)