NCJ Number
155486
Date Published
1995
Length
375 pages
Annotation
Based in the belief that adult survivors of child sexual abuse cannot effectively transform their trauma until they understand how the particular characteristics of the abuse and the abuser have affected them, this book documents sex offender characteristics and how they influence the trauma and transformation of their victims.
Abstract
The first chapter considers what is known about sex offenders and the meaning of this knowledge. It concludes that current data on sexual offending reveals a highly compulsive and repetitive behavior. In addition to committing a wider variety and a higher number of sex offenses at an earlier age than previously thought, sex offenders also commit an extensive number of nonsexual crimes as well, thus adding to the overall picture of antisocial and irresponsible behavior. Sex offenders are also adept at avoiding detection, largely because their victims are silent about their abuse. The second chapter reviews the concept of the deviant cycle, which is an interlocking series of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that culminate in sexual assault. All of the behaviors of the offender, including the grooming of the victim, the subterfuge and deception, as well as the methods of maintaining secrecy are processed and internalized by the survivor and constitute part of the trauma. Other topics considered in remaining chapters are sadistic compared to nonsadistic offenders and their effects on victims, apology and forgiveness in the cycles of adult male child molesters, the effects of child sexual abuse on victims' emotions and thinking, the management of chronic pain, and treatment techniques for reducing and managing chronic pain in the adult survivor of child sexual abuse. 324 references and a subject index