Citation

Winder B, Gough B. J. Sex. Aggress. 2010; 16(2): 125-141.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13552600903503383

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

There is an ongoing public debate about internet sex offenders: do they progress to contact offences, or are their deviant interests sufficiently satisfied through downloading indecent images of children? Also, do such individuals accept that they create victims in the absence of direct physical contact with children? This paper presents an analysis of the accounts offered by individuals convicted of internet-based sexual offences involving the downloading and viewing of images of children (n = 7). The data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA); a number of themes were generated from the rich data set produced. Here we focus upon the dominant theme of "self-distancing" wherein interviewees variously and often creatively rejected the view that they were creating child victims, actively disidentified from the sex offender label and generally downplayed their accountability relating to their offending activities. Findings are discussed in relation to policy implications and treatment.