Theresa A. Gannon

How to integrate the good lives model into treatment programs for sexual offending : an introduction and overview

The good lives model (GLM) represents a new theoretical framework informing sex offender treatment programs; however, substantial variation has been observed in terms of how GLM-related ideas and practices have been applied. Integrated appropriately, the GLM offers potential for improving outcomes of programs following a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) approach and operating according to a narrow operationalization of risk, need, responsivity (RNR) principles. Conversely, misguided or otherwise poor integration could increase the very risk practitioners work to prevent and manage. The purpose of this article is to provide an introduction and overview on how to integrate the GLM into treatment using CBT and RNR. The authors describe clinical implications of the GLM as they relate to program aims and orientation, assessment and intervention planning, content, and delivery.

Linking Violent Thinking Implicit Theory-Based Research with Violent Offenders

Violent offenders often articulate offense-supportive cognitions during rehabilitation, yet these statements have received little theoretical attention, and intervention approaches have targeted each type of statement individually, as if they were unrelated. An implicit theory approach to cognitions has proved fruitful for research and intervention. The authors apply it to violent offenders. The first study presents a grounded theory investigation of offense-supportive cognition in prisoners attending an intensive rehabilitation program for violent offenders. Analysis of offense transcripts enabled the identification of several implicit theories. These results were refined with a second sample and trialed in the rehabilitation program. Findings suggest that several implicit theories held by violent offenders are linked to each other through the widespread normalization of violence. Few offenders experienced their violent behavior as abnormal, or completely outside of their control, once initiated. The authors make suggestions for enhancing the empirical status of this research domain, particularly through experimental investigations.

What Works in Offender Rehabilitation: An Evidence-Based Approach to Assessment and Treatment

compendium of work related to offender assessment and treatment. Comprehensive in scope and written by the very best researchers and practitioners in the field, this book is set to become an essential guide for forensic professionals and a core text for those on teaching and training courses. In bringing this collection of excellent chapters together, the editors have done a great service to all of us who work with offenders to reduce crime.” Professor Mary McMurran, PhD, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham

Female sexual offenders : theory, assessment, and treatment

About the Editors. List of Contributors. Preface. Acknowledgments. 1 Female Sexual Offenders: Theory, Assessment and Treatment An Introduction (Theresa A. Gannon and Franca Cortoni). 2 Understanding the Prevalence of Female-Perpetrated Sexual Abuse and the Impact of That Abuse on Victims (Jacqui Saradjian). 3 Theories of Female Sexual Offending (Danielle A. Harris). 4 The Juvenile Female Sexual Offender: Characteristics, Treatment and Research (Lisa L. Frey). 5 The Mental Health Needs of Female Sexual Offenders (Myriam-Melanie Rousseau and Franca Cortoni). 6 The Assessment of Female Sexual Offenders (Franca Cortoni). 7 The Treatment Needs of Female Sexual Offenders (Hannah Ford). 8 A Review of Treatment Initiatives for Female Sexual Offenders (Kelley Blanchette and Kelly N. Taylor). 9 Using the Polygraph with Female Sexual Offenders (Peggy Heil, Dominique Simons, and David Burton). 10 Working with Female Sexual Offenders: Therapeutic Process Issues (Sherry Ashfield, Sheila Brotherston, Hilary Eldridge, and Ian Elliott). 11 Developments in Female Sexual Offending and Considerations for Future Research and Treatment (Theresa A. Gannon, Mariamne R. Rose, and Franca Cortoni). Index.

The cognitive distortions of child molesters are in need of treatment

Abstract This paper forms the second part of a debate led by Marshall, Marshall, and Kingston (2011) regarding the need to address so-called cognitive distortions in sexual offender treatment. In their paper, Marshall et al. argue that so-called cognitive distortions may not necessarily require intense and focused attention or challenge throughout treatment. In evaluating Marshall et al.s arguments, we highlight some inherent differences in how both Marshall et al. and ourselves choose to define the term “cognitive distortion”. We surmise that these key definitional differences appear to account for many of the issues that we “debate”. In particular, for example, Marshall et al. focus their arguments regarding cognitive distortions more explicitly upon excuses, denial and minimisations, whereas we choose to focus upon schemas and higher-order belief structures. Thus, we argue that the broadness and vagueness of the term “cognitive distortion” can lend itself to quite different interpretations and research foci. We offer some alternative views to Marshall et al.s position and advocate the consideration of cognitions with an aetiological role in offending. We conclude with some suggestions for future research and treatment.

What were they thinking? An exploration of child sexual offenders’ beliefs using a lexical decision task

Abstract Cognitive distortions have been afforded a key role in the offending behaviour of child sexual offenders. While the mechanisms underlying cognitive distortions are not fully understood, they are generally thought to reflect entrenched beliefs that distinguish child sexual offenders from other individuals. We investigated this hypothesis using a robust experimental technique called the lexical decision task. Child sexual offenders, offender controls, and non-offender controls completed a lexical decision task in which they responded to words that completed sentences in either an offence-supportive or nonoffence-supportive manner. Contrary to predictions, child sexual offenders did not respond faster to words that were consistent with offence-supportive beliefs, relative to controls. However, they did show accelerated recognition for word stems supporting external locus of control beliefs. These results highlight the need to use cognitive experimental methods to study child sexual offenders’ beliefs, and the importance of investigating potential alternative drivers of cognitive distortions.

Do child molesters hold distorted beliefs? What does their memory recall tell us?

Abstract Do child molesters hold distorted beliefs (or cognitive distortions) that support their sexual offending? To test this hypothesis, we asked 28 child molesters and 20 inmate controls to read a description of child molestation. Within this vignette, we planted 10 ambiguous descriptions. If child molesters’ information processing were driven by cognitive distortions, we hypothesized that they would use this knowledge to disambiguate and cognitively distort each description. This was tested by examining participants’ free recall of the vignette. Chi-square tests of association showed that both child molesters and inmate controls had various memory distortions for the vignette, but could not be differentiated based on the numbers of cognitive distortions in their recall classifications. In other words, our findings did not support the widely held cognitive distortion hypothesis—a finding which could promote substantial revision of both how we view child molesters’ “cognitive distortions”, and how we treat them.

Good Lives sexual offender treatment for mentally disordered offenders

Purpose – The main aim of this paper is to describe the content, structure and preliminary evaluation of a new Good Lives sexual offender treatment group (SOTG) for male mentally disordered offenders.Design/methodology/approach – As evaluation and work on the SOTG is necessarily ongoing, case study descriptions of each patient who attended the SOTG and of their progress throughout SOTG are described.Findings – Overall, the case study progress reports suggest that mentally disordered male patients made some notable progress on SOTG despite their differential and complex needs. In particular, attention to each patients life goals and motivators appeared to play a key role in promoting treatment engagement. Furthermore, patients with lower intelligence quotient and/or indirect pathways required additional support to understand the links between the Good Lives Model (GLM) and their own risk for sexual offending.Research limitations/implications – Further evaluations of SOTG groups, that incorporate higher nu...

Human Rights, Ethical Principles, and Standards in Forensic Psychology

Human rights create a protective zone around persons and allow them the opportunity to further their valued personal projects without interference from others. This article considers the relationship between human rights and the general ethical principles and standards contained in the American Psychological Associations (APAs) code of ethics as applied to the forensic domain. First, it analyzes the concept of human rights, their structure, and their justification. Second, it briefly describes the APAs most recent code of ethics and the principles and standards that compose it. Third, it concludes by explicitly examining the relationship between the present human rights model and the APAs code, demonstrating how it is able to provide an additional ethical resource for forensic practitioners in their clinical work and so deepen their ethical sensibilities and decision making. Finally, the article presents a case study and discusses the human rights issues confronting practitioners inherent in such situations.

A re-examination of female child molesters' implicit theories: evidence of female specificity?

Recent research by Beech, Parrett, Ward, and Fisher has suggested that Ward and Keenans male-derived implicit theories represent a good theoretical fit for explaining female child molesters’ offence-supportive cognitions. This paper re-examines the applicability of Ward and Keenans (1999) male-derived implicit theories for explaining the self-reported offence-supportive cognitions of 16 UK female child molesters. Using almost identical analytic methods to Beech et al., we show that it is indeed possible to code female child molesters’ offence-supportive cognitions under each of the five male-derived implicit theories proposed by Ward and Keenan. However, our results show that the content of female child molesters’ offence-supportive cognitions appears very different to that of male child molesters. Based on our findings, we discuss relevant treatment implications and offer a re-conceptualization of implicit theories for female child molesters using the sex-role stereotyping literature. We also propose that – unlike male child molesters – female child molesters are unlikely to hold generalized implicit theories that sexualize children.