Citation

Iffland JA, Berner W, Dekker A, Briken P. J. Sex Marital Ther. 2015; 42(6): 534-551.

Affiliation

a Institute for Sex Research and Forensic Psychiatry, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf , Martinistr. 52, Hamburg , 20246 Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/0092623X.2015.1079757

PMID

26280194

Abstract

Research on sex offenders' relationships is scarce. The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate sex offenders' relationships as well as their female partners' adjustment strategies by means of interview analysis. Both partners profit from the relationship in terms of mutual support and acceptance. The sexual offence is a taboo subject, and the female partners were found to demonstrate cognitive distortions. The imbalance of power found in the sex offenders' relationships is discussed, as is the finding that those sexual offenders interviewed live out their need for dominance and sometimes their aggression. The women interviewed were found to cling to their partners as a result of their insecure attachment style. We discuss couple counseling and therapy as possibilities for addressing the imbalance of power and casting light upon the sexual aspect of the relationship.

Language: en