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ROLE OF AVERSION IN COVERT SENSITIZATION TREATMENT OF PEDOPHILIA: A CASE REPORT

NCJ Number
145840
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (1993) Pages: 1-14
Author(s)
L Stava; S M Levin; C Schwanz
Date Published
1993
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Covert sensitization (CovS) is a cognitive-behavioral procedure, using aversive imagery to weaken behavior, that has been used with some success to treat pedophiles.
Abstract
In this study, CovS was used to treat a 30-year-old, white male patient with a long history of sexual attraction to prepubescent girls, using a reversal design with additional controls for habituation. The principal measure of sexual arousal was penile reaction during the presentation of slides depicting males and females. The slides were accompanied by audio tapes describing neutral scenes (a visit to the grocery store) and aversive scenes, including the subject's arrest and humiliation in court. The results support the hypothesis that imagery that is aversive, rather than merely distracting, is needed to reverse sexual arousal to a deviant stimulus. Habituation did not sufficiently explain the data. Therapists using CovS must tailor aversive imagery to the individual client. 1 table, 3 figures, and 7 references