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Therapists’ perceptions of the childhood experiences of male sex offenders

University of British Columbia

There are indications that sex offending behaviors begin to develop in childhood, and are influenced by the experiences sex offenders have as children. Traumatic sexual abuse is one type of experience known to contribute to sex offending behavior, but non-traumatic experiences may also influence this behavior. This study was conducted to determine what childhood experiences therapists perceived as impacting the development of sex offending behavior in males. This qualitative study employed purposeful sampling techniques. A sampling frame of 18 therapists in private practice, who were known to work with male sex offenders, were sent a letter describing the study and asking for their participation. Of these 5 male therapists responded and were interviewed. A semi-structured interview guide was employed; all interviews were recorded and transcribed. Each of the therapists taking part in this study had at least 2 years experience working with sex offenders, and 3 of them had 7 or more years experience. Each of the therapists interviewed had attained at least a Masters degree and two had Ph.D.'s in psychology. The clients seen by these therapists because of their sex offending behavior ranged in age from 4 to 80 years. Four of the five therapists also provided services to male survivors of sexual abuse. Qualitative methods of content analysis were employed. Three categories and one over-riding theme described the data. The three categories support an ecological approach. Therapists identified factors at an individual, family environmental, and cultural level of experience which they perceive as influencing the development of sex offending behavior. Therapists described this development as an evolutionary process and believed that childhood experiences influence that process. An ecological model describing this process is presented. A number of limitations are discussed which preclude the possibility of forming firm conclusions. However, this data corroborates other studies which suggest that childhood experiences influence the development of sex offending behavior, and that this behavior begins to manifest itself in childhood. Implications arising from this study support the notion that further research is needed in this area. This study also argues that identifying childhood experiences which influence the development of male sex offending behaviors can lead to more effective and proactive interventions. Changing sex offending patterns of behavior in male children may be a much easier task than treating those behaviors when they have become entrenched in adults.

Thesis/Dissertation

application/pdf

2009-01-31

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/4031

Social Work

University of British Columbia

UBCV

DSpace