Pub Date : 2024-09-14DOI: 10.1177/10790632241283752
Robert J. B. Lehmann, Fabian Obermeier, Alexander F. Schmidt, Sören Enge
In their influential paper Wurtele et al. (2014) investigated the degree to which individuals within the general population ( N = 435) express sexual interest in children. In the male population of their study ( n = 173), about 6% showed a propensity to engage in sexual activity with a child. Based on a German general population sample consisting of women and men ( N = 911, n = 206 males), we were able to replicate most of the results of Wurtele and colleagues (e.g., 6% of men indicated some likelihood of having sex with a child). To explain sexual offending, Seto (2019) developed the motivation-facilitation model (MFM). In our study, we were interested whether this model also translates to explaining the propensity for deviant sexual behavior in the general population. Moderated hierarchical logistic regression analyses revealed that hypersexuality and sexual fantasies had significant effects as motivating factors for deviant sexual behavior (e.g., sexually assaulting an adult), whereas we found no significant effect of psychopathy as a facilitator. For the prediction of child sexual abuse, only hypersexuality had a significant effect. Notably, after including gender in both models the effect of hypersexuality was no longer significant. Accordingly, we were able to show that the MFM is useful in explaining the propensity for deviant sexual behavior foremost in the male general population. Thus, in clinical practice an assessment of hypersexuality seems to be most relevant for the male population.
{"title":"The Propensity for Deviant Sexual Behavior in the General Population: An Empirical Examination of the Motivation-Facilitation Model","authors":"Robert J. B. Lehmann, Fabian Obermeier, Alexander F. Schmidt, Sören Enge","doi":"10.1177/10790632241283752","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10790632241283752","url":null,"abstract":"In their influential paper Wurtele et al. (2014) investigated the degree to which individuals within the general population ( N = 435) express sexual interest in children. In the male population of their study ( n = 173), about 6% showed a propensity to engage in sexual activity with a child. Based on a German general population sample consisting of women and men ( N = 911, n = 206 males), we were able to replicate most of the results of Wurtele and colleagues (e.g., 6% of men indicated some likelihood of having sex with a child). To explain sexual offending, Seto (2019) developed the motivation-facilitation model (MFM). In our study, we were interested whether this model also translates to explaining the propensity for deviant sexual behavior in the general population. Moderated hierarchical logistic regression analyses revealed that hypersexuality and sexual fantasies had significant effects as motivating factors for deviant sexual behavior (e.g., sexually assaulting an adult), whereas we found no significant effect of psychopathy as a facilitator. For the prediction of child sexual abuse, only hypersexuality had a significant effect. Notably, after including gender in both models the effect of hypersexuality was no longer significant. Accordingly, we were able to show that the MFM is useful in explaining the propensity for deviant sexual behavior foremost in the male general population. Thus, in clinical practice an assessment of hypersexuality seems to be most relevant for the male population.","PeriodicalId":520112,"journal":{"name":"Sexual Abuse","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142259799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-09-11DOI: 10.1177/10790632241283464
Linsey A Belisle,Ethan A Marshall,Makayla M Butler
Person-centered language is a well-known approach to reducing stigmatizing labels among marginalized groups. However, little research has explored person-centered language's impact in criminal justice classrooms. Utilizing a mixed-method research design, this study explores the impact of person-centered language on students' perceptions of persons convicted of sex offenses. The study used three sections of an online Sex Crimes course. The course sections were identical, except for the language used and awareness of person-centered language; the control group section did not utilize person-centered language, the second section utilized person-centered language, and the third section utilized person-centered language and was given an informational lecture on stigmatizing language. Quantitative data was collected from the Perceptions of Sex Offenders Scale at the beginning and end of the semester. Students' end-of-semester reflection papers served as the qualitative component. The findings suggest shifts in punitive attitudes toward sentencing and management for the group exposed to person-centered language and the informational lecture. These differences were not apparent for the other groups and subscales. While qualitative data provided a more in-depth understanding of students' perceptions, overall, exposure to person-centered language didn't seem to impact student perceptions. However, exposure alongside a lecture about person-centered language, seemingly had a more pronounced impact on students' perceptions, suggesting that transparency surrounding language and reducing stigma are important components of person-centered language. The findings have implications for using person-centered language for criminal justice pedagogical practices, as well as considerations beyond the classroom (e.g., program development and curricula).
{"title":"What About Language?: A Mixed Methods Examination of the Impact of Person-Centered Language on Students' Perceptions of Individuals Who Commit Sex Offenses.","authors":"Linsey A Belisle,Ethan A Marshall,Makayla M Butler","doi":"10.1177/10790632241283464","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10790632241283464","url":null,"abstract":"Person-centered language is a well-known approach to reducing stigmatizing labels among marginalized groups. However, little research has explored person-centered language's impact in criminal justice classrooms. Utilizing a mixed-method research design, this study explores the impact of person-centered language on students' perceptions of persons convicted of sex offenses. The study used three sections of an online Sex Crimes course. The course sections were identical, except for the language used and awareness of person-centered language; the control group section did not utilize person-centered language, the second section utilized person-centered language, and the third section utilized person-centered language and was given an informational lecture on stigmatizing language. Quantitative data was collected from the Perceptions of Sex Offenders Scale at the beginning and end of the semester. Students' end-of-semester reflection papers served as the qualitative component. The findings suggest shifts in punitive attitudes toward sentencing and management for the group exposed to person-centered language and the informational lecture. These differences were not apparent for the other groups and subscales. While qualitative data provided a more in-depth understanding of students' perceptions, overall, exposure to person-centered language didn't seem to impact student perceptions. However, exposure alongside a lecture about person-centered language, seemingly had a more pronounced impact on students' perceptions, suggesting that transparency surrounding language and reducing stigma are important components of person-centered language. The findings have implications for using person-centered language for criminal justice pedagogical practices, as well as considerations beyond the classroom (e.g., program development and curricula).","PeriodicalId":520112,"journal":{"name":"Sexual Abuse","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142222925","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}