Showing papers by "Tony Ward published in 2006"

Identification of five fundamental implicit theories underlying cognitive distortions in child abusers: A preliminary study

Abstract: Qualitative analysis of interviews with 22 child abusers found strong evidence for Ward and Keenan's (1999) proposal that there are five implicit theories in child abusers that account for the majority of their cognitive distortions/thinking errors. These implicit theories are: Child as a sexual being where children are perceived as being able to and wanting to engage in sexual activity with adults and also are not be harmed by such sexual contact; Nature of harm where the offender perceives that sexual activity does not cause harm (and may in fact be beneficial) to the child; Entitlement where the child abuser perceives that he is superior and more important than others: and hence is able to have sex with whoever, and whenever, he wants; Dangerous world where the offender perceives that that others are abusive and rejecting and he must fight to regain control; and Uncontrollable where the offender perceives the world as uncontrollable and hence he believes that circumstances are outside of his control. There was no evidence for any other type of implicit theory. Results of the study also indicated that there was a significant difference in terms of the endorsement of the Dangerous world implicit theory between participants reporting a history of child sexual abuse and those who did not. Offenders against male victims were significantly more likely to endorse the Child as a sexual being and Dangerous world implicit theories compared to men who had offended against female children.

The Identification of Sexual and Violent Motivations in Men Who Assault Women: Implication for Treatment

Abstract: A qualitative analysis of interview data with 41 rapists determined that five implicit theories (ITs) underlie rapists’ offense supportive beliefs/feelings/motives: (a) dangerous world (DW)—where men have feelings of generalized anger and/or resentment toward others; (b) women are dangerous—where men hold a set of attitudes that are hostile toward women; (c) women as sexual objects (WSO)—where women are seen as primarily sexual objects; (d) male sex drive is uncontrollable—where sexual urges are seen all consuming; (e) entitlement—where men feel that they can do exactly what they want. Consideration of whether DW or WSO ITs were present or absent indicated that three main groups could be identified: Group 1: violently motivated—presence of DW and/or absence of WSO; Group 2: sexually motivated—presence of WSO and/or absence of DW; Group 3: sadistically motivated—presence of DW and WSO. These results are discussed in terms of treatment needs of rapists.

The structural properties of sexual fantasies for sexual offenders: A preliminary model

Abstract: While the phenomenon of sexual fantasy has been researched extensively, little contemporary inquiry has investigated the structural properties of sexual fantasy within the context of sexual offending. In this study, a qualitative analysis was used to develop a descriptive model of the phenomena of sexual fantasy during the offence process. Twenty-four adult males convicted of sexual offences provided detailed retrospective descriptions of their thoughts, emotions and behaviours—before, during and after their offences. A data-driven approach to model development, known as Grounded Theory, was undertaken to analyse the interview transcripts. A model was developed to elucidate the structural properties of sexual fantasy in the process of sexual offending, as well as the physiological and psychological variables associated with it. The Sexual Fantasy Structural Properties Model (SFSPM) comprises eight categories that describe various properties of sexual fantasy across the offence process. These cate...

Offender Rehabilitation Down Under

Abstract: In this paper we offer an overview of reintegration policies in both Australia and New Zealand. We describe the rehabilitative practices of both countries, and their basis in the Risk—Needs—Responsivity model of offender rehabilitation, before outlining the recently developed Good Lives Model of offender rehabilitation. Our conclusion is that the model has much to offer the future development of reintegration programmes in Australasia (and elsewhere), given its ability to conceptualise the change process, and accommodate those cultural and contextual factors that are so important to the correctional population in these countries.

Promoting human goods and reducing risk

Abstract: Rehabilitation should be concerned with equipping offenders with the capabilities and values to live prosocial and personally meaningful lives. is depends on the acquisition of accurate knowledge of the social and physical world, development of a robust understanding of their own values and standards, the ability to pursue their own personal good in specific environments, and being able to utilise the resources they require to overcome routine obstacles in the pursuit of that good. ese two sets of capacities are embedded in a narrative identity that reflects peoples’ commitments, personal projects or goals, and subsequent activities. Narratives are stories of past experience and sets of expectations about future experiences and lives. ey both guide the actions of individuals and shape their experiences and lives (Kekes, 1993; Ward & Stewart, 2003). A person’s sense of who he is emerges from his personal projects and activities in the world.

Violent Sex Offenders

Abstract: Survivors of serious sexual assault often describe the experience as violent, shocking, and degrading. Yet, in most offenses, the resulting level of physical injury to the recipient is low in comparison to the sexual and psychological impacts of sexual violation (Katz, 1991). Physically violent acts vary from restraint and threat, through slapping, punching, and kicking to strangling, smothering, choking, shooting, stabbing, mutilating, dismembering, and so on. Offenders often use physical violence in conjunction with sexual and psychological forms of violence during sexual assaults. However, the focus of this chapter is on the use of violence that has the potential to cause physical injury.