Self-Regulation Model of Sexual Offending: The Relationship Between Offence Pathways and Static and Dynamic Sexual Offence Risk

• NCJ Number: 216213
• Journal: Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: July 2006 Pages: 259-270
• Author(s): Pamela M. Yates; Drew A. Kingston
• Date Published: July 2006
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This Canadian study tested the validity of T. Ward and S.M Hudson's (1998) proposed self-regulation model of the offense process specific to sex offenders, based on its use with 80 adult male sex offenders being treated.

Abstract

Study findings support the validity of the self-regulation model regarding its various pathways to offending, as well as the advantages of this model over the relapse prevention model. The self-regulation mode provides options for various pathways to offending; whereas, the relapse prevention model relies on only one pathway (avoidance-based) to offending. Under the self-regulation model, incest offenders tended to follow an avoidant-passive pathway, and rapists tended to follow approach pathways, particularly the pathway associated with impulsivity and general criminality. With the exception of mixed offenders (those who offended against both adults and children), all sex offender types were represented across the four pathways to varying degrees. These findings support the hypothesis that different offender groups have different motivations and dynamics of offending, i.e., they demonstrate different pathways to offending. This suggests the importance of assessing the dynamics of offending within groups of offenders. Findings support the argument that different sex offenders require different treatment approaches that are tailored to their particular risk factors and offending dynamics, as well as varying levels of treatment intensity. The self-regulation model is based in the theory that individuals are goal-directed in their behavior, as they act in order to achieve either a desired state or avoid an undesired state. The nine-phase self-regulation mode consists of four pathways that vary both between individual offenders and within an individual offender at varying points in the offending progression. 4 tables and 40 references