NCJ Number
208880
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 16 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2001 Pages: 545-564
Editor(s)
Jon R. Conte
Date Published
June 2001
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This article describes the Facets of Sexual Offender Denial (FoSOD), a measurement tool of denial and the validity of the FoSOD in measuring many facets of denial.
Abstract
One of the primary obstacles interfering with a thorough examination of denial in child molesters and its amenability to treatment has been the absence of a psychometrically sound assessment instrument capturing the multiple facets of denial described in research. However, this study begins by describing the development of a measure of denial, called the Facets of Sexual Offender Denial (FoSOD) which was intended to be both comprehensive and psychometrically sound. Current procedures or measures assessing the denial in child molesters either lack sensitivity to the many different varieties of denial or lack demonstrated reliability and validity. This study attempted to empirically operationalize current clinical formulations of denial and establish a valid and reliable measure of the multifaceted construct of denial. Participants of the study consisted of 179 males who had been adjudicated guilty of a felony offense involving sexual contact with a minor. The FoSOD Scale was constructed to measure several aspects of denial. Seven of the most commonly identified types of denial are offense, responsibility, victim effect, extent, planning, sexual deviancy, and relapse potential. The research demonstrates the reliability, validity, and potential utility of the FoSOD as a measure of the many facets of denial exhibited by child molesters. References