Cognitive distortions are also
known as thinking errors in the relapse prevention model of
treatment. Denial is a cornerstone of distorted thinking and the
initial stages of treatment are usually breaking the denial of the offender.
After denial is initially broken, other distortions will arise and denial
will resurface to conceal additional offenses or for many other reasons.
Distorted thinking allows an offender to justify, rationalize, minimize and
project blame onto others about their crimes in order to reduce their own
anxiety about their behavior. Reduction of anxiety allows the offender
to escape taking responsibility or accountability for their actions, which
in turn makes it easier to commit additional offenses. Below are a
brief list of a few common distortions that occur during the course of
treatment.
Denial - I didn't do it.
I wasn't there. It didn't happen like that (almost always followed
by a lie describing how the offender's view of the circumstance).
Justification - This gives the
reason or motivation for committing the act. I was lonely. I
was angry.
Rationalization - These are
excuses for the behaviors committed by the offender. I couldn't
control myself.
Minimization - This is intended
to reduce the severity of the behavior to make it acceptable. I
just touched her for a minute. I didn't penetrate him.
Projection of Blame onto Others
- If my wife would have given me sex, I never would have raped that girl.
Blaming the Victim - She
shouldn't have wore that dress. She shouldn't have been walking alone.
She should have locked her door. He should have said no.
Assumptions - She looked
like she was of age (an offender may say this about a 4 year old).
Grandiosity - There are many
variances of distortions that occur under this heading. I'm unique,
I'm special, I'm a great guy, I would never do something like that.
Another aspect of this is the degrading of a victim. She is a
whore. I deserve to do whatever I want to her.
Victim Stancing - This is meant
to place the offender in the role of being a victim of a lie, the system, or
a conspiracy. I was framed. She told me she was 18
(this from an offender that raped a 10 year old).
Unaware - Offenders will act as
if they didn't know it was wrong to commit a sexual crime.
If anyone has additional
distortions to add to this, believe me, there are plenty more, let me know
and I will add them. I am always on the lookout for highly original
distortions from offenders and would love to fill this entire page with
additional examples for others to see.
