Understanding Sexual Offending: Myths and Theories

What is the primary focus of the PSYC3060 lecture on sexual offending?

The psychology of those who commit sexual offences rather than victim experience.

What stance does the lecturer take towards individuals who commit sexual offences?

A position of positive regard towards those individuals despite complete disapproval of their offending.

What should students do if any part of the lecture is distressing?

Consider stepping out or skipping forward if watching on KentPlayer.

What is the legal definition of rape according to the Sexual Offences Act 2003?

Penetration without consent of the vagina/mouth/anus by the penis.

What constitutes consent in sexual activity?

When a person agrees by choice to the sexual activity and has the freedom and capacity to make that choice.

What are some other sexual offences mentioned in the lecture?

Assault by penetration, sexual assault, voyeurism, and upskirting.

What is the age of consent in the UK?

16 years old.

What are the legal implications of sexual activity involving individuals under 13 in the UK?

Penetration, sexual contact, and inciting children to engage in sexual activity is illegal.

What is illegal when the victim is under 16 and the perpetrator is 18 or older?

Penetration, sexual contact, and inciting children to engage in sexual activity.

What may make sexual contact with someone aged 16 or 17 illegal?

An abuse of trust.

What are familial child sexual offences?

Sexual offences committed by family members against children.

What is grooming in the context of sexual offences?

The process of establishing a relationship with a child to facilitate sexual abuse.

What is the legal status of indecent images of children?

Possession and distribution of indecent images of children is illegal.

How does the age of consent vary in Europe?

It varies between 14 (e.g., Portugal, Germany, Italy) and 18 (e.g., Malta, Turkey, Vatican City).

What is the range of age of consent in the United States?

It varies between 16 and 18 depending on the state.

What implication does varying age of consent laws have for research?

Studies may treat as criminal individuals who would be acting lawfully in other jurisdictions.

What psychological traits might one consider when thinking about individuals who commit sexual offences?

Age, gender, appearance, social status, and whether they know their victims.

What is questioned about release of offenders

If they are released into the community, will they offend again?

What is the purpose of the reflection tasks mentioned in the lecture?

To encourage students to think critically about sexual offending and related issues.

What is the lecturer's approach to discussing offending scenarios?

Not to discuss or depict any offending scenarios in depth or make detailed reference to any specific cases.

What is the significance of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in the context of the lecture?

It provides the legal framework for defining and addressing sexual offences in the UK.

What is the range of lifetime prevalence of sexual partner violence reported by women aged 15 to 49?

5% to 59%

What percentage of women reported sexual violence by non-partners since age 15?

0.3% to 12%

What are the estimated global rates of child sexual abuse for boys and girls?

4-19% for boys and 11-22% for girls.

What common myth about sexual offending involves the perception of 'stranger danger'?

Parents primarily worry about sexual assault or abduction by strangers, despite 56.5% of CSA perpetrators living with the victim.

What percentage of sexual offences occur in the home?

69%

What is a common misconception about organized sexual offences?

That organized 'paedophile rings' are responsible for a large amount of sexual offences, when only 8% of offenders talked to others who sexually offended.

What belief about LGBTQ+ individuals and children has changed since the 1970s?

The belief that gay people pose a greater risk to children has declined considerably.

How do the terms 'child molester' and 'paedophile' differ?

Child molestation refers to anyone committing a contact sexual offence against a child, while paedophilia is a sexual preference for prepubescent children.

What are the types of offending in child molestation?

Incest/Intrafamilial and Unrelated/Extra familial.

What is the percentage of individuals who commit contact offences that are considered paedophilic according to Seto (2008)?

40-50%

What new methods are being developed to measure problematic sexual interest?

Less direct methods like reaction times to stimuli.

What is the relationship between individuals apprehended for indecent images of children and contact offences?

Those apprehended for indecent images show greater paedophilic arousal than those apprehended for contact offences.

What percentage of individuals apprehended for indecent images will have an officially recorded contact offence?

1 in 8.

What is the likelihood of reoffending with a contact offence for those apprehended for contact offences?

Less likely than individuals apprehended for indecent images.

What did Professor Elizabeth Letourneau suggest about sexual interest in children?

It is only one reason for sexual offending.

What is the definition of paedophilia according to WHO (1997)?

A sexual preference for children, usually of prepubertal or early pubertal age.

What are the terms used to describe sexual preferences for different age groups?

Hebophilia (around puberty), Ephebophilia (adolescent), Teleiophilia (adult).

What is the difference in evidence of paedophilia between incest/intrafamilial and unrelated/extrafamilial offending?

Incest/intrafamilial has less evidence of paedophilia and lower re-offense rates, while unrelated/extrafamilial has a greater risk.

What is the significance of the 36.9% statistic regarding CSA perpetrators?

It indicates that 36.9% of CSA perpetrators knew the child.

What is the misconception about the prevalence of female sexual offenders?

The notes suggest there is a need to explore sexual offending perpetrated by women.

What percentage of sexual offences reported to police are committed by women?

2.2%.

What percentage of sexual offences do women account for in victim surveys?

11.6%.

What is a significant factor in the under-reporting of female-perpetrated sexual offences?

The social and cultural construction of women may see female abuse as less harmful.

What stereotype is commonly associated with sexual assault and rape?

The predatory stranger-rapist.

What are some types of rape that challenge the stereotype of the predatory stranger-rapist?

Marital rape, acquaintance rape, date rape, multiple perpetrator rape, fraternity and campus-based sexual assault, gang rape, rape in war, and prison rape.

What factors are implicated in sexual aggression towards adults?

Hostile masculinity, sociosexual orientation, endorsement of rape myths, alcohol use, antisociality, and sadism.

What theory integrates research findings on sexual offending into a complex causal model?

Integrated Theory of Sexual Offending (Ward & Beech, 2006; 2017).

What prenatal influences are suggested as risk factors for paedophilia?

Latest research points to pre-natal influences on sexual offending.

What percentage of male abusers had a history of being victims of abuse?

35%.

What are clinical symptoms associated with sexual offending?

Deviant arousal, emotional problems regulating behavior, social difficulties, and offence-supportive cognitions.

What are offence-supportive cognitions?

Beliefs that affect how individuals see the world, themselves, and their victims.

What is the average follow-up time for assessing sexual recidivism in treated vs untreated individuals?

76.2 months.

What was the sexual recidivism rate for treated individuals?

9.5%.

What was the sexual recidivism rate for untreated individuals?

14.1%.

What does desistance refer to in the context of sexual offending?

A slowing down or complete cessation of offending behavior.

What are some theories of desistance?

Natural desistance, cognitive transformation, and informal social control.

What percentage reduction in sexual reoffending has been shown by treatment?

About 27%-43%.

What factors enhance the effectiveness of treatment for sexual offenders?

Prioritizing higher risk individuals, targeting criminogenic needs, using effective procedures, being responsive, and strengths-based approaches.

What is the relationship between sexual offences and non-sexual crimes?

Individuals apprehended for a sexual offence are more likely to be convicted for a non-sexual crime.

What is the significance of the Gannon et al. (2019) study on sexual recidivism?

It shows that reoffending is low and even lower when treated.

What is the implication of the phrase 'throwing away the keys' in the context of sexual offending?

It refers to the belief that some offenders should not be released back into the community.

How does cultural norm influence sexual violence?

Cultural norms can facilitate sexual violence and acceptance of rape myths.

What is the ecological niche in the context of sexual offending?

It refers to the social context of the individual, including their history of abuse.

What is the role of group processes in sexual aggression?

Group processes can contribute to multiple perpetrator rape and cultural acceptance of sexual violence.