Showing papers by "Tony Ward published in 1995"
TL;DR: In this article, a grounded theory approach was taken to the qualitative analysis of the descriptions of thoughts and feelings provided by 26 incarcerated child molesters while describing their most recent or typical offense.
Abstract: A grounded theory approach was taken to the qualitative analysis of the descriptions of thoughts and feelings provided by 26 incarcerated child molesters while describing their most recent or typical offense. The resulting descriptive model comprised nine stages, with three contributing factors that describe the sequence of cognitive and behavioral events that form an offense chain. The model incorporates offender type, offense type, and offers a description of the possible interactions between the various stages and factors. The model was then applied to the offense descriptions of an independent sample of 12 incarcerated child molesters in order to ascertain its cross-sample validity and the reliability of classification. The results suggest that the model has provisional validity and adequate interrater reliability. The theoretical, research, and clinical implications of the descriptive model are then discussed.
281 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors developed a comprehensive attachment model of intimacy deficits in sexual offenders by drawing extensively upon the burgeoning interface between the attachment literature and social cognition research, where the concept of an internal working model, as developed by Bowlby, is introduced as a bridge between early attachment experience and adult intimacy problems.
Abstract: In the past few decades a number of theories have been developed to further our understanding of various aspects of sexual offending. Recent work has focused on the relationship between early interpersonal experiences and the presence of intimacy deficits in sexual offenders. The present paper develops a comprehensive attachment model of intimacy deficits in sexual offenders by drawing extensively upon the burgeoning interface between the attachment literature and social cognition research. In particular, the concept of an internal working model, as developed by Bowlby, is introduced as a bridge between early attachment experience and adult intimacy problems. It is suggested that a comprehensive model of intimacy deficits in relation to the sexual offender must pay attention to attachment style, the internal working model, and current behavioral strategies for gaining or avoiding intimacy. The clinical and research implications of this model are presented and discussed.
217 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that sex offenders frequently demonstrate a number of underexplained features such as denial or minimization of offending, victim blaming, passivity, covert planning, dependence on immediate consequences, empathy and other emotional regulation deficits, intimacy and other social competency deficits, and alcohol and other drug problems.
Abstract: Sexually aggressive behavior is often facilitated and justified by distorted thinking and affective deficits. However, there is no clear conceptual model that accounts for the mechanisms which generate these phenomena and informs treatment goals. Sex offenders frequently demonstrate a number of underexplained features such as denial or minimization of offending, victim blaming, passivity, covert planning, dependence on immediate consequences, empathy and other emotional regulation deficits, intimacy and other social competency deficits, and, finally, alcohol and other drug problems. These features are usually seen as offense precursors. We argue that Baumeister's construct of cognitive deconstruction, the process by which people attempt to reduce the negative implications of self-awareness, provides both a middle-level theoretical explanatory framework that integrates these puzzles in a parsimonious way and a mechanism that suggests that these features may be consequences of, as well as precursors to, an offense. Suggestions for research and clinical practice are offered.
158 citations
TL;DR: A comprehensive cognitive-behavioural treatment program for incarcerated child molesters is described in this paper, which covers a variety of issues including distorted cognitions, sexual issues, victim empathy, social skills, problem solving, life skills, stress management and relapse-prevention training.
Abstract: A comprehensive cognitive-behavioural treatment program for incarcerated child molesters is described. This program operates within Kia Marama, a medium-security unit for sex offenders in the New Zealand prison system. It lasts 32 weeks and includes a four-week assessment process both before and after the 24 weeks of intensive treatment. Treatment covers a variety of issues including distorted cognitions, sexual issues, victim empathy, social skills, problem solving, life skills, stress management, and relapse-prevention training. In addition, when offenders are released they are supervised by professionals trained in relapse-prevention procedures. As this program began in late 1989, it is too early to properly estimate its success, but similar programs in North America have produced promising outcome data, and what tentative evidence we have to date suggests that the program is valuable.
46 citations
TL;DR: The application of Marlatt's relapse prevention model to the treatment of sexual offenders has greatly facilitated the assessment and therapy of difficult men as discussed by the authors, however, in applying this model of addiction to the sexual aggressr, certain conceptual and empirical problems have been overlooked.
Abstract: The application of Marlatt's relapse prevention model to the treatment of sexual offenders has greatly facilitated the assessment and therapy of these difficult men. In particular, Pithers' reformulation of the model has been found useful. However, in applying this model of addiction to the sexual aggressr, certain conceptual and empirical problems have been overlooked. Specifically, redefining a lapse and incorporating the problem of immediate gratification into the abstinence violation effect has created theoretical confusion and is not supported by recent empirical research. The clinical implications of these problems are discussed.
31 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report on their causal beliefs concerning their offence-related behaviour at four points in their description of their most typical or recent relapse in a 35-week relapse-prevention based treatment program.
Abstract: Relapse prevention is a multimodal, cognitive-behavioural approach to treating, among other types of clients, child molesters. Rather than positing a cure as the outcome of treatment, it emphasises self-management and personal responsibility for avoiding or coping with situations that threaten self-control. The motivation to use these self-control strategies is likely to vary according to beliefs about the causes of their offending behaviour, particularly as a function of the degree to which they are seen as controllable. Fifteen child molesters, classified as preferential or situational type, and familial or nonfamilial, from the Kia Marama unit at Rolleston Prison reported on their causal beliefs concerning their offence-related behaviour at four points in their description of their most typical or recent relapse. This assessment was carried out at four points in the 35-week relapse-prevention based treatment program. All participants made clinically positive changes in their causal ascriptions over treatment. Preferential participants judged the cause of their offending to be less controllable, and more stable at the time of offence, and more global than situational offenders. Compared with non-familial participants, incestuous participants evaluated the cause of their offending to be less stable at the time of their offence and less global across all the assessment points. The results are discussed in terms of the utility of attributional assessment as an interim measure of progress, particularly with respect to motivation to avoid reoffending.
16 citations
TL;DR: This article used factor analysis to determine empirically how many dimensions underlie the Attributional Dimensions Scale (ADS) and found that three primary dimensions, which were an internality/controllability factor, globality, and a stability factor, underlie it.
Abstract: The present study used factor analysis to determine empirically bow many dimensions underlie the Attributional Dimensions Scale (ADS). Subjects were 300 university students who made attributions for success or failure regarding a recent piece of marked work. A series of factor analyses was conducted then to determine whether four factors could be shown to underlie the 16-item 4ADS. Similarly, the factor structure of the 20-item SADS was investigated. Results for the 4ADS suggested three primary dimensions, which were an internality/controllability factor, globality, and a stability factor. Results for the SADS were essentially similar, with the addition of a universality factor. Two controllability items loaded with internality and the other two formed a highly specific two-item factor. The splitting of the items from the Controllability scale, across separate factors, was seen to reflect subtle differences in phrasing. Notwithstanding the lack of clear discrimination between internality and cont...
3 citations