Pathways to Sexual Offending (From Handbook of Sex Offender Treatment, P 17-1 - 17-16, 2011, Barbara K. Schwartz, ed. - See NCJ-243091)

• NCJ Number: 243108
• Author(s): Pamela M. Yates, Ph.D.; Drew A. Kingston, B.A.
• Date Published: 2011
• Length: 16 pages
• Sale Source: Civic Research Institute, Inc
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Research (Theoretical); Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

After concluding that the original relapse prevention model for treating sexual offenders is not based on empirical research, this chapter presents a treatment model for sexual offenders based on research that suggests there are at least four different paths to sexual offending.

Abstract

The proposed model is called the self-regulation model because it is based on self-regulation theory (Baumeister and Heatherton, 1996; Karoly, 1993). This nine-stage model of sexual offending is based on the manner in which behavior is regulated by the individual. It identifies three potential self-regulatory problems and four pathways to sexual offending. One of the self-regulatory problems is the failure to control behavior or emotional states, leading to acting in an uninhibited manner. A second problem is the attempt to control behavior by using strategies that are not effective, leading to unregulated harmful behaviors. A third problem is regulating abilities and behavior to achieve inappropriate goals, such as antisocial objectives. The four self-regulatory pathways associated with sexual offending are "avoidant-passive," "avoidant-active," "approach-automatic," and "approach-explicit." The "avoidant-passive" pathway" involves under-regulated or uninhibited behavior. The "avoidant-active" pathway is a regulated but misguided (maladaptive) effort to control deviant thoughts, fantasies, or emotions, such as through substance abuse. The "approach-automatic" behavioral pathway involves the willful acting out of abusive sexual behavior. The offender's behavior is considered "automatic" because it tends to be impulsive and based on embedded cognitive and behavioral scripts. The "approach-explicit" pathway does not involve deficits in the ability to self-regulate behavior; rather it involves a belief system and attitudes that support sexual aggression as a means of sexual gratification or emotional release. In this pathway, the individual intentionally plans the offense and implements explicit strategies for achieving the behavioral goal. Research that has confirmed the validity of this model is reported, and treatment implications are drawn. 57 references