Reactions to Motivational Accounts of Child Molesters
- 10 January 1994
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
- Vol. 2 (4) , 43-60
- https://doi.org/10.1300/j070v02n04_03
Abstract
This study examined reactions to child molesters' accounts for their deviant behavior. Subjects (probation officers, therapists) rated various explanations for a man sexually touching his step-daughter. The results showed that almost all subjects changed their perceptions of an offender's culpability based on the accounts provided. The results suggest that authorities are most likely to be sympathetic to accounts that are perceived as credible and that minimize the offenders' responsibility for their offenses. Implications for the assessment and treatment of child molesters' "cognitive distortions" are discussed.Keywords
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