NCJ Number
197956
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 46 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2002 Pages: 657-667
Editor(s)
George B. Palermo M.D.
Date Published
December 2002
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This article attempts to extend the research on the role of shame and guilt in child sexual offending and provides an important distinction between internal and external shame in considering sexual offenders.
Abstract
This article directs its discussion to child sex offenders and the role of shame and guilt in child sexual offending. A general literature review suggests a greater emphasis be directed towards the aspect of shame. It is proposed in this article that shame and guilt have relevance for child sex offenders beyond what has been proposed in previous literature. The article begins with a brief review of proposed characteristics and empirical support for the presence of shame and guilt. It continues with a look at previous research in the areas of correlates of shame and guilt, shame as a common characteristic of child sexual offenders, an explanation for shame in child sexual offenders, and the treatment of sexual offenders as movement from shame to guilt and research implications. It is proposed that the phenomena of shame and guilt have implications for treatment beyond those identified in previous studies. Shame is a significant feature in the initial presentation of many sexual offenders against children. In addition, aspects of the treatment of sexual offenders can be characterized as a shift from shame toward guilt. References