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Social Cognition and Sexual Offending: A Theoretical Framework

NCJ Number
163220
Journal
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1996) Pages: 55-80
Author(s)
L Johnston; T Ward
Date Published
1996
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This paper proposes the use of a social cognition framework in considering cognitive processes that may be important contributing factors in the propensity of some men to commit sexual offenses.
Abstract
Clinicians and researchers have noted the important role of maladaptive beliefs and distorted thinking in facilitating or justifying sexual offenses. There have been a number of attempts to describe the nature of these beliefs and to develop ways of measuring them, but in the absence of any integrating theory. The authors believe that an understanding of the cognitive processes that underlie the initiation, maintenance, and justification of sexual offending is a vital prerequisite to the development of successful treatment programs. Pertinent research in the social- cognition domain, covering motivational factors on cognitive processes is described in this paper and related to the sexual offending literature. Implications are drawn for clinical practice, and suggestions are offered for future research. 115 references

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