No description available.

Background. Cognitive distortions (CD) are an important factor in many theories of sexual offending with non-intellectually disabled sex offenders (non-IDSOs). However, attempts to replicate the research with IDSOs have been fraught with difficulties due to bias. This study examined participants with intellectual disabilities (IDs) ability to complete a new measure of bias for sexual images (the `dot-probe detection task') and cognitive bias towards visual sexual images in intellectually disabled child sexual offenders (IDCSOs). Method. 56 male participants were recruited to the study and allocated to one of three groups: IDCSOs (N = 17), ID non-offenders (IDNOs: N= 18) and non-ID nonoffenders (NIDNOs: N= 21). All participants completed a computer based measure of cognitive bias for sexual images (the `dot-probe detection task') and questionnaires on demographics, offences and sex offender treatment. Participants with no formal IQ assessment also completed a brief measure of IQ. Groups were appropriately equivalent in age, IQ, employment status and religious orientation. Results. Some participants with IDs were unable to complete the computer based task (N = 6). There was no significant difference between groups on accuracy of responding or ability to complete the computer based task. Positive bias scores were found for the IDCSOs and the IDNOs, but not for the NIDNOs. IDCSOs were the only group to have a mean positive attentional bias when images of children were examined separately from adult images. No significant difference was found between the groups in terms of cognitive bias. Discussion. The results provide support for the use of the `dot-probe detection task measure' with individuals with ID, but do not provide evidence supporting cognitive bias for sexual images in IDCSOs. The study was likely to be underpowered. The results and methodological issues are discussed in the context of theories of information processing, CDs, and the assessment and treatment of IDCSOs

High emotional loneliness, poor empathy and an extemallocus of control have all been implicated in the development and maintenance of sexually offending behaviour. However, little research has been conducted on sexual offenders with intellectual disabilities. Current literature provides contradictory and inconclusive answers and little attention has been paid to how these constructs are related to offending in intellectually disabled sex offenders. This study therefore sought to explore these relationships. Method 57 participants were recruited in to three groups: (i) 17 men with an intellectual disability who had committed a sexual offence against a child; (ii) 17 men with an intellectual disability who had no known history of offending or sexually inappropriate behaviour; and (iii) 23 men without an intellectual disability and no known history of offending or sexually inappropriate behaviour. Each participant completed measures of loneliness, empathy and locus of control. Results The comparison group of non-intellectually disabled non-offenders were significantly more empathic than the intellectually disabled non-offenders, but not the sex offenders. The comparison sample also had a significantly more internal locus ofcontrol than the other two groups, both of which endorsed an extemallocus of control. The two groups of intellectually disabled participants, both offenders and non-offenders, did not differ in their levels of empathy or locus of control. In addition, participants with a higher IQ had a more intemallocus of control and demonstrated a greater level of empathy. There was no significant difference between the three groups on the measure of emotional loneliness. Conclusions The implications of these findings on theory, research and clinical practice for people with intellectual disabilities are discussed. It seems that the relationship between emotional loneliness, empathy, locus of control and offending may be different in sex offenders with intellectual disabilities, compared to their counterparts in the general population

This thesis examined the psychological characteristics of clerical and laymen who had sexually abused children. A three group design was used which permitted comparisons to be made between a group of 30 clerical men who had sexually abused children, a group of 73 laymen who had sexually abused children, and a group of 30 laymen who had not sexually abused children. The following instruments (all but two of which are from the Sex Offender Assessment Pack) were included in the assessment protocol: the Personal Reactivity Index, the Interpersonal Reaction Inventory, the Assertiveness Inventory, the Locus of Control Inventory, the UCLA Emotional Loneliness Scale, the Self-Esteem Inventory, the Victim Empathy Scale, the Children and Sex Scale, the SHAPS Lie Scale, the Multiphasic Sex Inventory, and the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised. Groups were compared on dependent variables using analysis of variance with post hoc comparisons for interval scale variables and found to differ significantly on 11 of 18 variables. Clerical offenders were more conscientious than lay offenders, and were more agreeable, more empathically concerned, and reported greater social sexual desirability than normal controls. But they also had lower self-esteem than the normal control group. The lay offenders had greater neuroticism, less extraversion, less openness, more agreeableness, greater emotional loneliness, more empathic concern, more personal distress, lower self-esteem, less assertiveness, and social sexual desirability than normal controls. In addition to the ANOVAs a multivariate discriminant analysis (MDA) was completed to identify which set of dependent variables best predicted group membership. The MDA identified 2 discriminant functions that predicted group membership of 72% of participants. Function 1 which accounted for 76% of the variance, distinguished clerical and lay offenders from normal controls and included these variables: agreeableness, self-esteem, openness, social sexual desirability, extraversion, personal distress and neuroticism. Function 2, which accounted for 23% of the variance, distinguished clerical offenders from the other two groups and included these variables: under assertiveness, conscientiousness, empathic concern and emotional loneliness.

Exploration of factors that lead to early termination of therapeutic services to sexually abused children at TygerBear Unit. Some children referred to TygerBear Unit because of sexual abuse did not complete their therapeutic intervention programmes and possibly did not receive sufficient time to work through the trauma of sexual abuse. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and describe the factors that result in the early termination of sexually abused children’s therapeutic services at TygerBear Unit. Applied research that is exploratory and descriptive in nature, with the case study method as strategy, was followed. Data were collected through telephonic and/or one-on-one semi-structured interviews, in addition to the use of notes in personal records. Respondents included parents and/or caregivers of children whose therapy was terminated early, as well as social workers involved with play therapeutic service delivery to these children. Information was analysed with reference to the Field Theory, Ecological Theory and the relevant literature. Several factors that influenced parents and/or caregivers to terminate therapeutic services early were identified. / Die verkenning van faktore wat lei tot voortydige terminering van terapeutiese dienslewering aan seksueel-mishandelde kinders by TygerBeer Eenheid. Sommige kinders wat na TygerBeer Eenheid verwys word weens seksuele mishandeling, voltooi nie hul terapeutiese intervensieprogramme nie. Die kinders is moontlik nie genoeg tyd gegun om deur die trauma van seksuele mishandeling te werk nie. Die doel van hierdie kwalitatiewe studie was om faktore te verken en te beskryf wat lei tot die voortydige terminering van terapeutiese dienslewering aan seksueel-mishandelde kinders by die TygerBeer Eenheid. Toegepaste navorsing van 'n verkennende en beskrywende aard is gebruik, met die gevallestudiemetode as strategie. Data is versamel deur middel van telefoniese en/of een-tot-een semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude en persoonlike rekords. Respondente het bestaan uit ouers en/of versorgers wat hul kinders of voogde se terapie voortydig termineer het, asook maatskaplike werkers betrokke by spelterapeutiese dienslewering aan kinders. lnligting is ontleed met verwysing na die Veldteorie en Ekologiese Teorie, asook die relevante literatuur. Verskeie faktore is geidentifiseer wat ouers en/of versorgers noodsaak om terapeutiese dienste voortydig te termineer. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

Exploration of factors that lead to early termination of therapeutic services to sexually abused children at TygerBear Unit. Some children referred to TygerBear Unit because of sexual abuse did not complete their therapeutic intervention programmes and possibly did not receive sufficient time to work through the trauma of sexual abuse. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and describe the factors that result in the early termination of sexually abused children’s therapeutic services at TygerBear Unit. Applied research that is exploratory and descriptive in nature, with the case study method as strategy, was followed. Data were collected through telephonic and/or one-on-one semi-structured interviews, in addition to the use of notes in personal records. Respondents included parents and/or caregivers of children whose therapy was terminated early, as well as social workers involved with play therapeutic service delivery to these children. Information was analysed with reference to the Field Theory, Ecological Theory and the relevant literature. Several factors that influenced parents and/or caregivers to terminate therapeutic services early were identified. / Die verkenning van faktore wat lei tot voortydige terminering van terapeutiese dienslewering aan seksueel-mishandelde kinders by TygerBeer Eenheid. Sommige kinders wat na TygerBeer Eenheid verwys word weens seksuele mishandeling, voltooi nie hul terapeutiese intervensieprogramme nie. Die kinders is moontlik nie genoeg tyd gegun om deur die trauma van seksuele mishandeling te werk nie. Die doel van hierdie kwalitatiewe studie was om faktore te verken en te beskryf wat lei tot die voortydige terminering van terapeutiese dienslewering aan seksueel-mishandelde kinders by die TygerBeer Eenheid. Toegepaste navorsing van 'n verkennende en beskrywende aard is gebruik, met die gevallestudiemetode as strategie. Data is versamel deur middel van telefoniese en/of een-tot-een semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude en persoonlike rekords. Respondente het bestaan uit ouers en/of versorgers wat hul kinders of voogde se terapie voortydig termineer het, asook maatskaplike werkers betrokke by spelterapeutiese dienslewering aan kinders. lnligting is ontleed met verwysing na die Veldteorie en Ekologiese Teorie, asook die relevante literatuur. Verskeie faktore is geidentifiseer wat ouers en/of versorgers noodsaak om terapeutiese dienste voortydig te termineer. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

This report is the result of a literature study and questionnaire which gave insight on the role of Department of Correctional Services in the rehabilitation of child molesters. Correctional Services has adopted a new approach, where offenders need to change their negative behavior and be rehabilitated. Corrections have a societal responsibility towards the community to guide the offender on his rehabilitation path. This study was conducted to give a better understanding of rehabilitation to child molesters. It seems that child molesters will re-offend if they are not included in a thorough treatment programme. The purpose of this research is to determine if the Department of Correctional Services delivers on its legal and social responsibility towards the rehabilitation of child molesters. It is evaluated against international benchmarks. In this study the researcher gathered information on the profile of a child molester, the programmes currently available in Correctional Services, and also the involvement of the community in this process. Corrections cannot work alone, and needs the help of the community and leaders in the community to assist it in this process. Correctional Services faces many challenges in order to succeed in the rehabilitation of offenders. Currently there is a shortage of social workers and psychologists in the Department of Correctional Services, and the Department cannot, therefore, fully succeed in its rehabilitative role. Another aspect is that treatment is voluntary, and offenders can decide if they want to become involved or not. Only if the judge decides that the offender must be included in therapy, can he be forced to do so. / Penology / M.A. (Penology)

This report is the result of a literature study and questionnaire which gave insight on the role of Department of Correctional Services in the rehabilitation of child molesters. Correctional Services has adopted a new approach, where offenders need to change their negative behavior and be rehabilitated. Corrections have a societal responsibility towards the community to guide the offender on his rehabilitation path. This study was conducted to give a better understanding of rehabilitation to child molesters. It seems that child molesters will re-offend if they are not included in a thorough treatment programme. The purpose of this research is to determine if the Department of Correctional Services delivers on its legal and social responsibility towards the rehabilitation of child molesters. It is evaluated against international benchmarks. In this study the researcher gathered information on the profile of a child molester, the programmes currently available in Correctional Services, and also the involvement of the community in this process. Corrections cannot work alone, and needs the help of the community and leaders in the community to assist it in this process. Correctional Services faces many challenges in order to succeed in the rehabilitation of offenders. Currently there is a shortage of social workers and psychologists in the Department of Correctional Services, and the Department cannot, therefore, fully succeed in its rehabilitative role. Another aspect is that treatment is voluntary, and offenders can decide if they want to become involved or not. Only if the judge decides that the offender must be included in therapy, can he be forced to do so. / Penology / M.A. (Penology)