Weekes, Pelletier, and Beaudette (1995), for instance, found, as we also know from media reports, that prison officers viewed child sex offenders to be more immoral than those who sexually assaulted adult women. Rogers, Josey, and Davies (2007) found that a male CSA perpetrator was blamed more by members of the public when his victim was depicted to be a 10-year-old child than when the child was depicted to be 15 years old. These trends can be interpreted in line with Shaver’s (1970) defensive attribution hypothesis, which claims that as (sexual) offenders are predominantly male, men are more likely to identify with and less likely to blame offenders for their criminal activity than are women.ĭoes the age of the victim make a difference in the way sexual offenders are viewed? The impact the victim’s age has on attitudes toward sex offenders has been investigated in a limited manner. It seems gender differences in attitudes toward sex offenders may not be confined to lay populations. Craig (2005) compared the attitudes of male and female forensic professionals toward sex offenders and found that males held fewer negative attitudes toward sex offenders than females. In a previous study, Rogers and Davies (2007) found males tend to perceive child sex abuse (CSA) to be less severe and CSA perpetrators less culpable for the abuse than do their female counterparts (see also Davies & Rogers, 2009 Rogers, Davies, & Cottam, 2010). Moreover, inviting the offenders to join programs voluntarily appeared to be more effective than their mandatory equivalents.Īgainst that backdrop, Rogers, Hirst, and Davies (2011) set out to investigate lay attitudes toward sex offenders, their treatment, and chances of rehabilitation. Lösel and Schmucker (2005) performed a metaanalysis and compared 80 treatment versus nontreatment groups (involving over 22,000 offenders from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and various German-speaking nations) and concluded that sex offender treatment does have a positive impact on sexual recidivism with, this time, hormonal medication (i.e., pharmacological therapy) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) being the most promising treatment types. Even among professionals, we can see that sexual offenders face harsher and more restrictive treatment options as far as the public is concerned ( Berliner, 2003). Even upon their release from jail, after having paid for their crimes, sex offenders face disintegrative shaming and further ostracizing from the public ( Wilson, McWhinnie, & Wilson, 2008). The reporting of sexual offense-related behaviors is habitually negative and often sensationalist, and therefore contributes to reinforcing public feelings of repulsion and hostility toward sex offenders ( Radley, 2001). The public holds such myths that sex offenders cannot be cured, that they are a homogeneous group that poses equal risk to society, and that the impact of sex assaults can carry over to the committal of nonsexual crimes like robbery or violence ( Fedoroff & Moran, 1997 Gidycz, Orchowski, King, & Rich, 2008). The term sex offender generally incites negative attitudes and stereotypes. Although prevention efforts are necessary, there is a paucity of prevention research on sex offending.Īmi Rokach PhD, Karishma Patel MSc, in Human Sexuality, 2021 Public attitudes toward sex offenders Cognitive-behavioral and psychohormonal treatments appear to be the most effective psychological interventions for sex offenders. A sexual preference for sexual aggression, affective states, and cognitive distortions are common motivations for sex offending. Being male, a history of being sexually victimized, and a history of past sexual offending are risk factors for sex offending. Other sex offenders may be classified as having antisocial personality disorders. Many sex offenders may be classified as having paraphilias, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. Clinical psychologists are involved in the assessment, treatment, and prevention of sex offending. The term ‘sex offender’ usually refers to those who have been apprehended by legal authorities, although sexually coercive behavior is also committed by those who are not caught. Such force may be physical, psychological, or both. Sex offenders force another person to engage in sexual contact against their will. Hall, in International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2001
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