Complications, consent, and cognitions in sex between children and adults

Abel, Gene G.; Becker, Judith V.; Cunningham‐Rathner, Jerry

doi:10.1016/0160-2527(84)90008-6

Cited by 355 publications

(192 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Such distorted cognitions are seen as a predecessor of (further) sexual offenses (Abel, Becker, & Cunningham-Rathner, 1984;T. Ward & Keenan, 1999).…”

Section: Effects Of Stigma On Cognitive Distortionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stigma-Related Stress and Its Correlates Among Men with Pedophilic Sexual Interests

et al. 2015

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Despite decades of research on the adverse consequences of stereotyping and discrimination for many stigmatized groups, little is known about how people with pedophilia perceive and react to stigma. In this article, we present a framework that outlines how stigma-related stress might negatively affect emotional and social areas of functioning, cognitive distortions, and the motivation to pursue therapy, all of which may contribute to an increased risk of sexual offending. We tested our hypotheses in an online survey among self-identified Germanspeaking people with pedophilia (N = 104) using a wide range of validated indicators of social and emotional functioning (Brief Symptom Inventory-53, UCLA Loneliness Scale, Emotion Subscale of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, Fear of Negative Evaluation-5, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale). Specific risk factors such as self-efficacy, cognitive distortions and the motivation to seek treatment were also assessed. In line with our hypotheses, fear of discovery generally predicted reduced social and emotional functioning.Contrary to our predictions, perceived social distance and fear of discovery were not linked to self-efficacy, cognitive distortions, or treatment motivation. Results were controlled for the effects of confounding variables (e.g, age, educational level, social desirability, relationship status). We critically evaluate the empirical contribution of this study to research on stigma and child sex offenses, including a discussion of the results in light of the potential indirect effects that public stigma may have on the overall risk for sexual offenses.

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“…Such distorted cognitions are seen as a predecessor of (further) sexual offenses (Abel, Becker, & Cunningham-Rathner, 1984;T. Ward & Keenan, 1999).…”

Section: Effects Of Stigma On Cognitive Distortionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stigma-Related Stress and Its Correlates Among Men with Pedophilic Sexual Interests

et al. 2015

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“…With regards to the former, measures used in the research to date include the MOLEST Scale (Bumby, 1996;in Neutze, Seto, Schaefer, Mundt, & Beier, 2011), the Abel and Becker's Cognitions Scale (ABCS; Abel et al, 1984;in Merdian et al, 2014), the Victim Empathy Distortion Scale (Beckett & Fisher, 1994;in Elliott, Beech, Mandeville-Norden, & Hayes, 2009) and the Children and Sex Cognitions Questionnaire (Beckett, 1987;). Overall, in these studies, CSEMOs were found to endorse permission-giving statements to a lower degree than CSOs (see also Howitt & Sheldon, 2007).…”

Section: The Endorsement Of Permission-giving Thoughts Amongst Csemosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gateway to offending behaviour: permission-giving thoughts of online users of child sexual exploitation material

Kettleborough

Merdian

2016

Journal of Sexual Aggression

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“…More recently, Drake et al (2001) and Ward (2000) point out that there is no theoretical foundation underlying the presentation of the seven cited cognitive distortions presented by Abel et al (1984). In other words, it seems as though the seven beliefs described by Abel et al (1984) are construed as being independent of each other; a proposal that is simply incongruous with other psychological disciplines (i.e., the developmental or social-cognition literature relating to implicit theories and schemas respectively).…”

Section: Critique and Elaboration Of Early Ideasmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…In other words, it seems as though the seven beliefs described by Abel et al (1984) are construed as being independent of each other; a proposal that is simply incongruous with other psychological disciplines (i.e., the developmental or social-cognition literature relating to implicit theories and schemas respectively). A further criticism meted out by Drake et al Feelgood, Cortoni and Thompson (2005) postulate that cognitive distortions are associated with maladaptive coping strategies in sexual offenders.…”

Section: Critique and Elaboration Of Early Ideasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It appears that the fi rst researchers to utilise the term "cognitive distortions" within the area of sexual offending were Abel, Becker and Cunningham-Rathner (1984). As argued by Abel and colleagues, men typically engage in sexual activity with children because they experience feelings of sexual attraction to prepubescent individuals.…”

Section: Cognitive Distortions Origins and Early Conceptualisationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Cognitive Distortions and Implicit Theories of Child Sexual Abusers

Thakker

Ward

Navathe

2007

Aggressive Offenders' Cognition

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Complications, consent, and cognitions in sex between children and adults

Cited by 355 publications

References 13 publications

Stigma-Related Stress and Its Correlates Among Men with Pedophilic Sexual Interests

Stigma-Related Stress and Its Correlates Among Men with Pedophilic Sexual Interests

Gateway to offending behaviour: permission-giving thoughts of online users of child sexual exploitation material

The Cognitive Distortions and Implicit Theories of Child Sexual Abusers

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