Citation

Merdian HL, Perkins DE, Dustagheer E, Glorney E. Int. J. Offender Ther. Comp. Criminol. 2018; ePub(ePub): 306624X17748067.

Affiliation

Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0306624X17748067

PMID

29310476

Abstract

Increases in the number of arrests of individuals who download or distribute Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM) have highlighted a need to further understand the offending pathways of this offender group. This article describes the development of an aetiological model specific to CSEM offending. Individuals who had viewed, distributed, and/or shared CSEM ( n = 20) were interviewed regarding their life and sexual history, relationships, substance use, offending details, and circumstances leading to their CSEM offending, resulting in seven superordinate themes: Developmental Context, Individual Propensities (risk-related and risk-protective) and Psychological Vulnerabilities, Personal Circumstances, Permission-Giving Thoughts, Internet Environment and Behaviour, Evaluation of Consequences for the Individual, and Desistance. These themes were combined into a case formulation tool specific for CSEM offending behaviour, with the aim of providing systematic guidance for assessment and treatment providers.

Language: en

Keywords

case formulation; child sexual abuse; child sexual exploitation; illegal images of children; risk management