University of Canterbury Home
    • Admin
    UC Research Repository
    UC Library
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    1. UC Home
    2. Library
    3. UC Research Repository
    4. Faculty of Science | Te Kaupeka Pūtaiao
    5. Science: Theses and Dissertations
    6. View Item
    1. UC Home
    2.  > 
    3. Library
    4.  > 
    5. UC Research Repository
    6.  > 
    7. Faculty of Science | Te Kaupeka Pūtaiao
    8.  > 
    9. Science: Theses and Dissertations
    10.  > 
    11. View Item

    Cognitive deconstruction in child molesters (1996)

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Sutcliffe-Thomas_1996.pdf (6.495Mb)
    Type of Content
    Theses / Dissertations
    UC Permalink
    https://hdl.handle.net/10092/102498
    http://dx.doi.org/10.26021/11609
    
    Thesis Discipline
    Psychology
    Degree Name
    Master of Arts
    Publisher
    University of Canterbury
    Language
    English
    Collections
    • Science: Theses and Dissertations [4655]
    Authors
    Sutcliffe-Thomas, Christina Jane
    show all
    Abstract

    Child molesters present with a variety of characteristics that contribute to the development and perpetuation of their offending, which can be further utilised in the assessment of offender subtypes. Offenders' cognitive dysfunctions, while critical, are a largely uncharted area of theory and empirical investigation. More comprehensive examinations are needed to further elucidate the nature of offenders' cognitions, the mechanisms by which they are generated, and to inform treatment. Twenty-five child molesters from the Kia Marama unit at Rolleston Prison, provided a detailed narrative of their most recent or typical offence, structued according to stages of the relapse prevention model. First, in order to compile a descriptive profile of the men's dysfunctional cognitions, their interview transcripts were analysed according to a multilevel model of dysfunctional cognitions. Cognitive concepts were explored and identified for their thematic contents, operational processes and communication styles, via the multilevel system. Second, participants were classified as either preferential or situational childmolester subtypes, revealing a numb~ of differences on the cognitive variables examined. Third, it was predicted by the theory of cognitive deconstruction that the situational men would engage in more instances of denials and minimisations than preferential men. In a separate analysis, the men's versions of their offence behaviours were compared with judicial reports for discrepancies identified in a minimisations and denials checklist. The expected difference between the offender subtypes was confirmed, and the significance of the observed results are discussed for their implications in theory, practice and future investigations.

    Keywords
    Child molesters--Psychology; Child sexual abuse--Psychological aspects; Cognition disorders; Cognitive psychology
    Rights
    All Rights Reserved
    https://canterbury.libguides.com/rights/theses

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Empathy in child molesters: a comparative view 

      Hammond, Jolie Gayda (University of Canterbury, 1998)
      In recent years there has been a large amount of research into the causes and treatment of child molestation. One focus of this research was concerned with the role of empathy deficits in child molesters. This thesis ...
    • Self report of emotional experience, sexual cognitions and behaviour during 100 days of a relapse prevention treatment programme for child molesters 

      Scott, Nicola (University of Canterbury, 1994)
    • Wife battering and other violent offending : an exploratory study 

      Allison, Elaine (1994)
      Over recent years there has been growing research into describing wife batterers and their characteristics. However there is little research into wife batterers and those who are violent with their wives and towards ...
    Advanced Search

    Browse

    All of the RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThesis DisciplineThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThesis Discipline

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics
    • SUBMISSIONS
    • Research Outputs
    • UC Theses
    • CONTACTS
    • Send Feedback
    • +64 3 369 3853
    • ucresearchrepository@canterbury.ac.nz
    • ABOUT
    • UC Research Repository Guide
    • Copyright and Disclaimer
    • SUBMISSIONS
    • Research Outputs
    • UC Theses
    • CONTACTS
    • Send Feedback
    • +64 3 369 3853
    • ucresearchrepository@canterbury.ac.nz
    • ABOUT
    • UC Research Repository Guide
    • Copyright and Disclaimer