Sexual Abuse Cycle & Interventions

EFFECTS OF REINFORCEMENT, IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE OF SEXUAL ABUSE

CYCLE, AND RELAPSE PREVENTION TRAINING ON COPING STYLE AND

RECIDIVISM OF MALE JUVENILE SEX OFFENDERS

The proposed study is designed to examine whether a comprehensive treatment intervention involving teaching adolescent sex offenders about the sexual abuse cycle operates to increase coping skills and decrease recidivism. So that the proposed study may be placed within the context of existing knowledge in the field, this section of the report offers a description and discussion of the nature of juvenile sexual offense in the United States and of the sexual abuse cycle itself.

Nature of Juvenile Sexual Offenders in America

What are the general characteristics of juvenile sex offenders? In this regard, Digiorgio-Miller (1993) has noted that:

Much of the literature on juvenile sex offenders has come from clinical opinion rather than empirical research. Relatively few studies have used comparison groups to ascertain the characteristics which separate juvenile sex offenders from other adolescents. (p. 1191)

In an effort to provide more empirical data on the characteristics of juvenile sex offenders and how they differ from non-offenders, Digiorgio-Miller (1993) examined the family conflict, self-esteem, sexual knowledge and peer relationships of 95 male adolescents from three groups of juvenile sex offenders, juvenile nonsex offenders and juvenile non-offenders. Each subject completed measures re

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escents. The Sexual Abuse Cycle Providing male sexual offenders with an in-depth knowledge of the cyclical nature of sexual abuse behavior is a large part of the agency's provided treatment. Understanding of the proposed research is therefore enhanced by a brief review of this cycle. A model of the basic cyclical nature and patterns of the sexually abusive lifestyle was first developed by Lane and Zamora (1984). According to the authors, sexual abuse is a process of response to past traumatic event (usually an invent in which the abuser was himself abused or molested) that triggers negative self-perceptions and feelings of helplessness. Based on this triggering event, the person attempts to compensate for the negative feelings and perceptions arising from the triggering event by exerting power over others in both sexual and non-sexual ways. In its more current form, Lane (1991) reports that the sexual abuse cycle model is best understood by viewing abuse as a process that occurs in three stages. The first stage is the precipitating phase. This phase involves exposure to the traumatic event, the interpretation of the event as having a negative meaning about one's safety, power, character and/or worth, and an initial attem

Category: Psychology - S