Learning Goal 1: What are cognitive distortions? (healthy vs.
unhealthy)
General
- Cognitive Distortions: Attitudes and beliefs which offenders use to deny, minimize
and rationalize their behaviour
- Concerning cognitive processes, research supports the notion that sexual offenders
interpret sexual information in maladaptive ways, usually in a manner consistent with
their underlying beliefs, and that this is related to subsequent sexual arousal
- Cognitive distortions in sex offenders are specific or general beliefs/attitudes that
violate commonly accepted norms of rationality
- However, there are a lot of definitions
o Maruna →An individual’s internal processes, including the justifications,
perceptions and judgments used by the sex offender to rationalize his child
molestation behaviour.. [which] appear to allow the offender to justify his
ongoing sexual abuse of children without the anxiety, guilt and loss of self-
esteem that would usually result from an individual committing behaviours
contrary to the norms of society (Abel).
- Postive vs. Negative cognitive distortions (Beech and ward)
o Positive: the ones that permit certain sexual acts
o Negative: minimalization components
Examples of C.D. in Child Molesters
- Child molesters, have beliefs that legitimize sexual involvement with children and
function to maintain offending
- Examples of cognitive distortions frequently found in child molesters include;
o “children often initiate sex and know what they want,”
o “children enjoy sexual contact with adults”
o “sex is good for children,”
o “men only commit sexual offenses when they are stressed and lose control,”
o “men’s needs are more important than children’s,”
o “men can do what they want with their children”
unhealthy)
General
- Cognitive Distortions: Attitudes and beliefs which offenders use to deny, minimize
and rationalize their behaviour
- Concerning cognitive processes, research supports the notion that sexual offenders
interpret sexual information in maladaptive ways, usually in a manner consistent with
their underlying beliefs, and that this is related to subsequent sexual arousal
- Cognitive distortions in sex offenders are specific or general beliefs/attitudes that
violate commonly accepted norms of rationality
- However, there are a lot of definitions
o Maruna →An individual’s internal processes, including the justifications,
perceptions and judgments used by the sex offender to rationalize his child
molestation behaviour.. [which] appear to allow the offender to justify his
ongoing sexual abuse of children without the anxiety, guilt and loss of self-
esteem that would usually result from an individual committing behaviours
contrary to the norms of society (Abel).
- Postive vs. Negative cognitive distortions (Beech and ward)
o Positive: the ones that permit certain sexual acts
o Negative: minimalization components
Examples of C.D. in Child Molesters
- Child molesters, have beliefs that legitimize sexual involvement with children and
function to maintain offending
- Examples of cognitive distortions frequently found in child molesters include;
o “children often initiate sex and know what they want,”
o “children enjoy sexual contact with adults”
o “sex is good for children,”
o “men only commit sexual offenses when they are stressed and lose control,”
o “men’s needs are more important than children’s,”
o “men can do what they want with their children”
