Sexual Offending: Cognition, Emotion and Motivation

How do individuals who have committed sexual offences see the world and themselves, and how can understanding this inform their rehabilitation? Cognition, emotion and motivation are interdependent components underlying the ways in which we all think and behave, and much effort has been spent investigating them in the hope of understanding antisocial behaviour. The findings have been promising, but as yet they have not been synthesized into a single, definitive resource. Integrating the latest theory, research, and practice, Sexual Offending focuses exclusively on the cognition, emotion, and motivation of individuals who have engaged in incidents of sexual offending. Chapters begin with a topic definition and theoretical overview, followed by an outline of relevant research and a discussion of the implications for improving evidence–based practice. 

Notes on Editors ix

Notes on Contributors xi

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xv

1 Emotion, Cognition and Motivation: An Enactive Perspective 1
Tony Ward

2 The Role of Cognition, Emotion and Motivational Goals in Sexual Offending: Multi ]Factor Models 17
Ross M. Bartels

3 Cognitive Explanations of Sexual Offending 35
Caoilte Ó Ciardha

4 Bridging the Cognitive Emotion Divide: Empathy and Sexual Offending 53
Sarah J. Brown

5 Emotions and Sexual Offending 71
Nicholas Blagden, Rebecca Lievesley and Jayson Ware

6 Motivators, Self ]Regulation and Sexual Offending 89
Jill D. Stinson

7 Cognition, Emotion and Motivation: Treatment for Individuals who have Sexually Offended 109
Geris A. Serran

8 Cognition, Emotion and Motivation: Future Directions in Sexual Offending 127
Theresa A. Gannon and Tony Ward

Index 147

Theresa A. Gannon is Professor of Forensic Psychology and Director of the Centre for Research and Education in Forensic Psychology (CORE–FP) at the University of Kent, UK. Dr. Gannon also works as a Practitioner Consultant Forensic Psychologist specializing in sexual offending and fire–setting for the Forensic and Specialist Service Line, Kent and Medway Partnership Trust. She has published more than 100 book chapters, articles, books, and other scholarly works related to male– and female–perpetrated sexual offending.