While a bit outdated, this theory was one of the very first to attempt to connect the concept of cognitive distortions with child sexual offending. According to Abel, Becker, and Cunningham-Rathner (1984), a faulty connection between deviant sexual interests and an individuals’ perception of societal norms and mores is what creates a cognitive distortion. This mismatch can lead to many of the beliefs that were listed in the cognitive distortion section. While Abel’s theory is considered the first to really examine cognitive distortions in sexual offending, his theory does not give much information. These next two theories are commonly accepted as two of the stronger theories of cognitive distortions in pedophilia, both of which attempt
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The first is that, because the world is a dangerous place, the offender must exert their dominance over all others who may question it, using sexual abuse as a way to enact their power and control. The other belief held within this theory is that, because the world is a dangerous place many people are just waiting to reject or otherwise harm the offender, but because children are more trustworthy and would never dream of doing these things, they are seen as safer. Since offenders believe children to be more trustworthy, that leads them to think that children must understand their desires and want to give them the love and care they need to satisfy …show more content…
These two beliefs are that harm has varying degrees and that sex is only beneficial and in no way harmful (Ward & Keenan, 1999). The first belief brings the notion that harm falls on a scale ranging from little harm to extreme harm. The harm level is moderated by the amount of force used, the victims perception of the abuse (whether they view it as abuse and to what extent) and the social meaning behind the abuse. Using this theory, less harm is done if the victim is “willing”, asleep, or not physically harmed or victimized by a stranger. This distortion gives offenders the view that they are causing very little harm, when in fact they are causing a great deal of harm. The second belief plays into the viewing children as sexual objects distortion. Since any sexual experience is beneficial to those involved, all harm to those involved comes from societal reactions and repercussions, not from the actual
The first is that, because the world is a dangerous place, the offender must exert their dominance over all others who may question it, using sexual abuse as a way to enact their power and control. The other belief held within this theory is that, because the world is a dangerous place many people are just waiting to reject or otherwise harm the offender, but because children are more trustworthy and would never dream of doing these things, they are seen as safer. Since offenders believe children to be more trustworthy, that leads them to think that children must understand their desires and want to give them the love and care they need to satisfy …show more content…
These two beliefs are that harm has varying degrees and that sex is only beneficial and in no way harmful (Ward & Keenan, 1999). The first belief brings the notion that harm falls on a scale ranging from little harm to extreme harm. The harm level is moderated by the amount of force used, the victims perception of the abuse (whether they view it as abuse and to what extent) and the social meaning behind the abuse. Using this theory, less harm is done if the victim is “willing”, asleep, or not physically harmed or victimized by a stranger. This distortion gives offenders the view that they are causing very little harm, when in fact they are causing a great deal of harm. The second belief plays into the viewing children as sexual objects distortion. Since any sexual experience is beneficial to those involved, all harm to those involved comes from societal reactions and repercussions, not from the actual