Publication year: 2011
Source: Aggression and Violent Behavior, In Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available online 15 May 2011
Caoilte, Ó Ciardha
Most current research and theory accepts implicitly or explicitly that there is a relationship between deviant sexual interest and cognitive distortions surrounding sexual contact with children. However the current literature is lacking a framework by which deviant interest and offence supportive or facilitative cognitive structures or processes may interact. Recent advances in the application of indirect measures of cognitive distortions and sexual deviance have indicated a potential utility of such measures as alternatives or adjuncts to existing measures such as penile plethysmography, viewing time tasks and questionnaires. However, without a coherent theory of what these subtle tasks are measuring and…
Research highlights: ► The paper summarises existing literature on cognitive distortions in sexual offenders against children ► The paper also summarises literature on sexual interest and novel ways of measuring sexual interest ► The paper discusses the overlap of sexual interest and cognitive distortions ► The paper proposes a framework by which sexual interest and cognitive distortions may interact