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Abstract
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This article outlines the most prominent characteristics of male adolescent sex offenders including family and school histories, sexual attitudes, social skills and relationships, other delinquent behaviors, psychiatric diagnoses, and most importantly, cognitive distortions based on mythical beliefs and misinformation. Treatment mandates accountability and correcting of thinking errors while building a foundation of mortality, remorse and empathy for victims, knowledge about sexuality, basic interpersonal skills, and effective self-interventions against relapse and reoffending.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The goal of this article by Lakey was to describe the most prominent characteristics of male adolescent sex offenders and to describe the key intervention areas for treatment.
METHODOLOGY:
A non-experimental review of the literature was employed for this study.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The author stated that adolescent sex offenders are obsessively self-absorbed, often characterized by opportunistic and manipulative approaches to the opposite sex. Inappropriate sexual fantasies were also said to be a part of this. Sexually offending adolescents were also said to be more lonely and socially isolated from peers, frequently preferring the company of younger children. Additionally, naivete and low levels of sex education were found. Disturbed family relations have also been reported in the lives of adolescent sex offenders. Psychological functioning and intelligence were said to vary. Denial and minimization practices, other cognitive distortions, and low levels of victim empathy were noted as frequent among these young offenders. Other factors found in the literature were problems with masculinity, anger or other difficulties with women, poor social skills, past sexual victimization, and aggressive and violent social models. Intimacy and trust issues were identified in one study as a major issue for the sexually abusing teenager, and this was intensified by transient family structures and a powerlessness. Other studies identified learning problems, conduct disorders, and additional delinquency as part of the backgrounds of the sexually abusive adolescent.
Treatment parameters were discussed. The author argued that the major goal of treatment is to prevent reoffending. The first step in this was said to be the destruction of denial and then the examination of motivations, cues leading to offending, offense patterns, and emotional responses. The author said that the adolescent needs to assume responsibility and realize that he is making conscious choices to offend through thinking errors. Other issues identified were deviant sexual fantasies and masturbation, developing victim empathy, dealing with impulse management, anger, revenge, and stress, dealing with victimization issues, and teaching social skills. A moral emphasis was identified by some writers. Treatment was said to be overwhelming. Forms incorporated into treatment were many--lectures, discussions, exercises, videos, role playing, journalling, and other forms. Role playing was said to be important for such things as breaking denial cycles, beginning disclosure, and developing victim empathy. Communication skills and social competency were also furthered by role playing. These were said work best in the group therapy mode for adolescent sex offenders with peer pressure being useful. Drug therapy was said to be unacceptable, overall, for adolescent sex offender treatment except if they are used for some allied problem as learning difficulties or attention deficit disorder.
AUTHOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS:
The author argued for more public awareness of juvenile sex offending, comparative research with normal control groups, and comparison of various treatment and prevention programs, preferably with longitudinal data.
EVALUATION:
This paper very concisely summarizes some of the research in juvenile sex offending. While it is accessible for the reader, there are many studies that are not included. Additionally, some of the summary information in the article has variable support in the literature. Thus, this article should be taken as a beginning point for the person interested in adolescent sex offending and not a complete summary of what is out there.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
KW - Male Offender
KW - Male Violence
KW - Sexual Assault Treatment
KW - Sexual Assault Offender
KW - Juvenile Male
KW - Juvenile Offender
KW - Juvenile Violence
KW - Juvenile Treatment
KW - Family History
KW - School History
KW - Offender Characteristics
Language: en |