One model of cognitive factors is the concept of cognitive distortions. These distortions refer to self-statements made by sex offenders that allow them to deny, minimize, justify, and rationalize their behavior. Another model derives from a more feminist perspective toward rape which describes attitudes supportive of rape, such as rape myth acceptance, sex role stereotyping, adversarial sexual beliefs, and acceptance of interpersonal violence against women. A third model is drawn from the criminological literature and proposes a number of lifelong patterns of distorted thinking by individuals who engage in criminal behavior. Certain clinical approaches have promise for changing cognitive dimensions of sexual abuse. These approaches involve cognitive restructuring techniques that provide subjects with a rationale for the role cognition has in maintaining sexual abuse, corrective information and education that usually focuses on victim impact, ways of helping subjects identify their specific distortions, and exercises to assist subjects in challenging and exploring their distortions. Therapies such as victim empathy training, sex education, and arousal reduction may potentially modify cognitive distortions. It is unclear, however, what effect changing cognitive distortions has on the long-term treatment of sex offenders. 42 references, 1 table.