23-6 Study of Sexual Offenders’ Denial Behavior
The purpose of this study is to increase our level of understanding about sexual offenders, specifically of their characteristics, purpose and extinct factors of denial behavior, through 15 focus groups with 10 sexual offenders. This research finds that sexual offender’s denial behavior is on a continuum dimension with varying degrees and types. The denial behavior is characterized by external attributions and self-victimization. There are two types of primary denial behaviors, including denial of crime and minimization of victim harm. The main purpose of denial behavior is to avoid further damage both in the social and the personal level. Purposes at the social level are self protection in prison, avoidance of treatment responsibility, and prevention of discrimination and harm to themselves and their families. Purpose at the personal level is avoidance of inner sense of guilty. This research also finds that extinct factors of denial behavior include mitigation of threats from prison and judicature, interpersonal acceptance, and chances for self-introspection. Furthermore, this research provides suggestions for further research and treatment in the future.
Keywords
denial, sexual offender.
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