AFFECT, EMOTIONS AND SEX OFFENDING

Abstract

The role of emotional and other affective states as causes and consequences of sexual offending is emerging as an important area for theoretical analysis and for empirical research. In this paper we focus on whether affective and emotional states serve as causal antecedents for sexual offending. Firstly, we identify five sources of evidence relating to whether emotion is causal. We conclude that the evidence broadly supports the notion that a causal relationship exists, at least for some offenders. We then address attempts to identify mechanisms to explain how such effects are mediated. Finally we discuss the implications of this work for therapeutic interventions with sex offenders.

Keywords:

• Affect
• Emotions
• Sex Offenders

Acknowledgments

This paper had its origins in a keynote address to the Conference of the Australia and New Zealand Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse, Sydney, April 2002.