Major Theories of Sexual Offending

THEORIES OF SEXUAL OFFENDING
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Theories of Sexual Offending
Introduction
Sexual offence or crime has been a major global concern over a long period of time. As the sexual crime rates continue to soar in different parts of the world, so does the need to understand the causative agents and corresponding interventions needed to stop the act or at least reduce its prevalence. Basically, sexual offense has got numerous causative factors that continue to exist among individuals. Lack of knowledge of these factors is one of the major reasons behind the increasing rate of sexual crime in the world. Ignorance has been of the factors that have been attributed to the continued rise in cases of sexual offense (Sexual Offending). Studies conducted out i9n different parts of the world reveal that children are the most vulnerable to sexual offending. Besides, they happen to be the victims of these circumstances in most of the cases that have been reported about sexual abuse. Despite various measures adopted, including harsh legal penalties, sexual offending seems to be the order of the day in most parts of the world.
Nevertheless, scholars, psychologists, researchers and other parties interested in this matter, have come up with numerous ways of explaining the contributory factors of sexual violence (Ward & Polascheck, 2006). This has been theorized to an extent that different models have been developed to help understand the complexity of sexual offending and corresponding effective ways of preventing the acts. These models include single factor models and multi-factor models. However, a close look at the theories reveals the fact that they complement each other and most of the time appears in combination. In respect to this, this paper intends to discuss the major theories of sexual offending. This will be done by analyzing both causative and treatment theories that have been developed. To arrive at the conclusions case analysis and the use of illustrations will be used in respect to the topic of discussion.
The Addiction Theory/Model
According to Ward & Polascheck, (2006) addiction is defined as a habit or practice that damages life depending on what an individual is addicted to. The addiction model of sexual offending has a number of elements in it. This include; the existence of substitute sources of sexual satisfaction (such as pornography, sex on the internet and prostitutes), lenience of sexual anti-social behavior, a tendency of the society preoccupying itself with the deification of sex and sex itself and obsessive sexual behaviors (Theories of Sexual Offending). Just like addiction to drugs or alcohol for that matter, sexual offenders always want to repeat the behavior every now and then. This is specifically because engaging in sex always alters moods and gives pleasure to the offender just like drugs. Sexual offenders are characterized by mental obsession that always includes sexual fantasies, repeating the behavior every now and then and having neurotic behaviors (McGuire, 1995).
Addicts of sexual offending are victims of loss of self control and will always want to justify their actions while minimizing the blame. Notably, these behaviors produce shame and sometimes may be abusive to other individuals. Sexual offenders have a vulnerability of objectifying mostly women and children who in the long run become de-personalized (Ward & Polascheck, 2006). Normally, sexual offenders are used to countering norms that prohibit the act and even laws that that have been established to prevent sexual offending. Bandura, (1986) notes that after destroying the cultural barriers and laws prohibiting sexual offending, the likelihood of repeating the same act becomes high. This is one of the models that explain why sexual offending cases are on the rise.
Cognitive Behavioral Theory
This involves having cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs. Behavioral theorists suggest that sexual offending can be learnt or conditioned in a way (Hollin, 1990). For instance, when an individual gets involved in a sexual deviant act, say sexual abuse, they become behaviorally conditioned to the sexual spur. Kendall, (2004) notes that in learning or conditioning as proved by scientists, there must be a reinforcement which leads to acquisition of a particular trait. In this case, the orgasm acts as the reinforcing agent. This is because it produces an urge to continue with the trait which eventually leads to conditioning. The offenders’ cognitive thoughts and behaviors are subject to producing unrelenting patterns for compulsive behaviors (Theories of Sexual Offending). This also leads to a situation where the offenders view of the world changes. As this trend continues the offender develops defense mechanisms as part of the conditioned response to the learnt behavior. This includes secrecy which then fuels his offending behavior. Notably, this theory implies that offenders may actually sexually abuse victims because they have learnt it and it has become a conditioned behavior (Kendall, 2004).
On the other hand, the victim of sexual offending can also be subject to this sexual offending. For instance, if a child has been abused sexually repeatedly on a number of occasions, they may internalize the whole of the actions as part of the learned sexual behaviors. This leads to a situation where they think that it is normal and hence, does nothing about the ‘normality’ (Hollin, 1990). Nevertheless, sexual offenders view children, sexual arousal and women in a different way compared to other individuals who may have learned about the same appropriately. When the view of sex is distorted, offenders tend to have low self esteem and depression. This leads to social deficits which make them look for comfort and recognition from children (Ward & Polascheck, 2006). This theory notes that most sexual offenders and molesters are usually immature might not have grown beyond the adolescent phase that includes emotional development.
The Bio-Medical Theory
This theory connotes that sexual offenders portray some bio-chemical and physical characteristics that are basically dissimilar from typically average males (Theories of Sexual Offending). In other words, male sexual offenders generate relatively more testosterone compared to non-sexual male offenders. These biological factors may also include excessive production of hormones which are related to sexual arousal in men. Basically, this also leads to the reason why individuals may be coerced to get involved in sexual offense. The testosterone hormone is associated with the increased sexual aggression and sex drive (Sexual Offending). Apart from this, biological theorists also suggest that biological or physiological programmed sexual preferences and appetites in sexual offenders may predispose them towards engaging in sexual offenses (Theories of Sexual Offending). This theory holds a lot of significance as it cane b justified. Specifically when sexual drive is high in an individual due to the presence of more testosterone, they might be forced to engage in sexual offense to ‘ease’ the situation as biological theorists put it.
The Learning Theory
This theory is usually used in combination with the cognitive behavioral theory. Learning theorists suggest that offenders learn about sexual offending behavior from the contexts within which they exist (Theories of Sexual Offending). For instance, from the environments they live in, sexual offenders may have seen or watched somebody else modeling the behaviors or simply may have been victims of sexual abuse. Research conducted in the United States indicates that between 30% and 80% of sexual offenders were victims of sexual abuse during their childhood (Sexual Offending). However, the larger percent6age consists of sex offenders who have never been victims of sexual abuse and have never witnessed such acts. This implies that sexual offenders always continue learning these behaviors for so long as it exists in their environments. The learning for this matter also involves developing complex skills of accessing victims and ‘handling them’ (Andrews & Bonta, 1994). Learning theorists purport that as the behavior is learnt for a long time, it becomes more and more arousing. Besides, sexual offenders develop ways through which the avoid detection or can easily escape when apprehended. Particularly, this theory suggests that sexual offending behavior can be learnt when individuals are exposed to them and/or are victims of the same.
Attachment Theory (Intimacy Theory)
Attachment theory, also known as intimacy theory suggests that sexual offenders and their victims possess the characteristics that make them common. In their book Theories of Sexual Offending, Ward & Polascheck, (2006) connote that these characteristics may include but, not limited to depression, having low self esteem, being dismissive, difficulty in maintaining intimate relationships and isolation. This leads to intimate deficit which is one of the risk factors in being vulnerable to sexual abuse. The aforementioned characteristics are referred to as problematic attachments by attachment theorists. This problems lead to challenges related to intimacy in relationships. As a result, individuals may be prompted to engage in sexual offending just because they cannot find compassion at their own personal level in terms of intimacy (McGuire, 1995). For instance, attachment/intimacy theorists suggest that people who are insecurely attached always seek means through which they can be close to other emotionally. However, they end up totally avoiding it because they fear being hurt or rejected (Sexual Offending).
Rich, (2006) notes that such individuals in the illustration above may end up establishing close relationships with children in which they find safety. These relationships can also be romantic for the sake of it. This may eventually lead to the sexual offenders having the wrong sexual contact with the children. Basically, this amounts to sexual abuse (Rich, 2006). On the other hand, individuals who are dismissively attached may not want to be any close to anybody including becoming intimate in any particular way (Theories of Sexual Offending). This makes them develop very hostile feelings including being angry and feeling negative about others. This, for the most part of it, as stated by attachment theorists, happens in adult women. According to Ward & Laws, (2003) subsequently, such individuals may act out of this anger in sexually belligerent ways which amount to sexual offense. In essence, this theory built upon the fact that behavioral characteristics which are also referred to as problematic attachments are functions of sexual offending. However, theorists suggest that problematic attachments do not necessarily depict a sexual offender.
Psycho-Dynamic Theory
This theory is developed on the rationale that sexual offenders have powerful sexual impulses and weak superegos/morals. Sexual offenders develop defense mechanisms that are manifested in their unconscious wrong-doings. These defense mechanisms may include but not limited to denial (Theories of Sexual Offending). Denial includes a refusal by the offenders to comply with the fact that whatev...