Abstract
Some therapists/scientists argue that “acceptance” of sexual interest in minors (SIM), i.e., the integration of the sexual preference into the individual self-concept, is a prerequisite for dealing with SIM in a responsible way. However, if one assumes that – even in some persons – SIM might change over time, “acceptance” could also run counter to therapeutic targets because the motivation to change as well as the specific self-efficacy for modifying SIM might be reduced. This exploratory pilot study analyzes the relationship between acceptance of SIM and (1) dynamic risk for contact sexual reoffending, (2) SIM and frequency of the use of child/adolescent (sexual abuse) imagery, (3) frequency of sexual desire/behavior toward children/adolescents, and (4) the change of the level of acceptance of SIM during the course of treatment. The majority of the participants (N = 79) was not exclusively interested in children (85%) and used child pornography but did not commit child sexual abuse (54%). Acceptance of SIM, frequency of the use of child/adolescent (sexual abuse) imagery and frequency of sexual desire/behavior toward children/adolescents are assessed via self-report questionnaires, dynamic risk for contact sexual reoffending is measured by STABLE-2007. Pretreatment data are analyzed via Spearman’s correlation (N = 79). Intragroup analysis compares acceptance of SIM from pre- and posttreatment (n = 35). There was no correlation between acceptance of SIM and dynamic risk for contact sexual reoffending. However, there was a medium, positive correlation between acceptance of SIM and the frequency of the use of legal imagery of children, a positive correlation between the item “My inclination is an integral part of my personality” and the frequency of the use of legal imagery of children, and a positive correlation between acceptance of SIM and the frequency of sexual activities with minors. Acceptance of SIM did not change during the course of treatment. The results suggest that “acceptance” of SIM has to be discussed in a differentiated way, i.e., as possibly being associated with positive and negative outcomes as well.
Highlights
Findings from an online survey with 8,718 German males indicate that 4.1% have sexual fantasies about children and that 3.2% have offended against prepubescent children
Results of the Spearman’s correlation indicated that there was no significant correlation between IASI rev total score and STABLE-2007 total score, and that there was no significant correlation between Item 5 IASI rev score and STABLE-2007 total score (Table 3)
For the group of patients who reported child/adolescent sexual abuse in their past, results of the Spearman’s correlation indicated that there was no significant correlation between IASI rev total score and STABLE-2007 total score, and no significant correlation between Item 5 IASI rev score and STABLE-2007 total score, either (Table 3)
Summary
Findings from an online survey with 8,718 German males indicate that 4.1% have sexual fantasies about children and that 3.2% have offended against prepubescent children. The sites of the German network “Kein Täter werden” (means: not become an offender) offer treatment for people seeking therapeutic help because of sexual interest in minors (SIM) and distress or a risk of sexual (re-)offending (Netzwerk “Kein Täter werden”, 2018). It is a formal requirement in this network that individuals who receive treatment are currently not in contact with the criminal justice system. The construct “acceptance,” as it is understood in this exploratory pilot study, means that sexual preference is accepted as a “stable and constantly challenging part of the own personality” which, being “fate rather than choice,” “cannot be changed by any treatment” It goes along with an ego syntonic concept of sexual preference which allows therapy right away to focus on aspects other than sexual preference (Institute for Sexology and Sexual Medicine of the Charité, 2013)
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