Disclosure strategies among sex offenders: A model for understanding the engagement process in groupwork

Type of content
Journal Article
Thesis discipline
Degree name
Publisher
University of Canterbury. Social Work.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
Date
2006
Authors
Frost, A.
Daniels, K.
Hudson, S.M.
Abstract

A key component of the functional engagement of child sex offenders in a group-based programme is the disclosure of certain personal information. Such information is required to be of a type and presented in a way that facilitates open exchange in the group, promoting understanding of the presenter’s offence pattern and conveying his sole responsibility for the offending. The model explained in this paper, based on an outcome from a grounded theory study, describes in detail four distinct orientations to such disclosure. Each is associated with a particular style of managing the disclosure encounter. Three of these disclosure management styles can be described as essentially “resistant” in nature, but only one is overtly oppositional. The two other “resistant” styles of disclosure management emerge as more covert and perhaps less readily identifiable expressions of reluctance. The implications of the model for work with this population and in more general settings are discussed.

Description
This article fully explicates the disclosure management model developed from my research, providing a comprehensive description of each of the four styles of “disclosure”. It includes numerous transcript excerpts by way of illustration. The intention is to provide theorists and clinicians with sufficient information to be able to accurately apply the model in clinical practice. In this way treatment issues can be identified and addressed to promote therapeutic engagement.
Citation
Frost, A., Daniels, K., Hudson, S.M. (2006) Disclosure strategies among sex offenders: A model for understanding the engagement process in groupwork. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 12(3), pp. 227-244.
Keywords
sex offender treatment, engagement, child sexual offenders, disclosure management style, groupwork
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
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