NCJ Number
199852
Journal
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2003 Pages: 75-92
Date Published
April 2003
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This is the first of two papers that outline the history of the development of behavioral and cognitive treatment of sexual offenders from the mid-1800’s to 1969.
Abstract
The authors begin by noting the historic contribution of Sigmund Freud in the development of a scientific interest in deviant sexual behavioral. By the 1900’s this interest had been well established as theories began to flourish about the etiology of deviant sexual behavior. By the mid-20th century, the theories of John B. Watson and Alfred Kinsey were prominent in the development of behavioral approaches to treatment. By the 1950’s, behavioral psychology was being utilized to treat a wide range of behavior problems and disorders, including deviant sexuality. The authors next discuss the development of penile plethysmography, which further focused attention on deviant sexual preferences and behaviors. While these advances in behavioral therapies were developing, so too were nonbehavioral approaches to the treatment of sexual offenders. In the late 1960’s, a combination of behavioral and cognitive behavioral treatments began to emerge, which ultimately led to the emergence of the sexual offender treatments seen today. References