NCJ Number
128878
Date Published
1990
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This chapter describes the shame-sexuality cycle and describes therapeutic techniques for breaking this cycle and the negative experiences and behaviors associated with it.
Abstract
This chapter accepts Fossum and Mason's (1986) definition of "shame," i.e., "an inner sense of being completely diminished or insufficient as a person." Male sexual abuse victims and offenders experience a deep, shameful affect connected with their sexuality. Clients respond to the bond between shame and sexuality in various ways. For some men, sexual arousal becomes tied to repetitive sexual behaviors and fantasies. The first stage of the cycle involves an experience of sexual abuse and the role-modeling processes that occur during the maltreatment. The shameful feelings of stage two result from being abused. This includes self-blame and other self-devaluing cognitions. During stage 3, a period of tension and fear, the victim believes that he is unlovable. Stage four consists of rage and defense/coping behaviors as the victim attempts to deal with the three preceding stages. The fifth stage involves negative behaviors (often sexual) designed to alleviate the shame, but which only tend to increase the cycle. This chapter describes cognitive, behavioral, and spiritual therapies that help male sexual abuse victims separate their sexuality from shame. 1 table, 2 figures, and 21 references