There are many theories about the
creation of violent offenders, which attempt to explore the acts. Among these
are the nature-nurture debate, learning models, sociological explanations and
the list goes on. In most of these theories, the "cause" of violent acts is an
external event "creating" the offender. Where then does the responsibility for
the acts fall?
In most cases of deviant crimes as we have defined it here on the site, the
offender wants to perform a violent act. He may plan the event, choose a very
specific victim (type), perform rituals and repeat the cycle over a series.
Although learning and environmental factors may have played a role in creating
cognitive distortions or conditioned the offender to behave in a certain manner,
the desire to perform the violent acts is maintained within the offender.
To recognize this places responsibility where it belongs; on the offender. In
the treatment of sex offenders, teaching the offender to recognize triggers,
interrupting the offense cycle and accepting responsibility for actions is used.
There is not a "cure" for sexual offending; one can only hope to teach the
offender to gain control over deviant impulses. In many ways serial offending
(rape, homicide, arson) is like that of an addiction. Treatment providers that
have recognized this now utilize an intervention used to treat drug and alcohol
addiction.
Using this model, the offender must admit to the offense, and be willing to
accept responsibility for the acts. In working with an addicted person, this is
very difficult at times because of denial. The same is true for offenders
because cognitive distortions or fear of further incarceration may cause them to
deny that a crime was committed. The use of the polygraph and treatment groups
is often used to break this denial, at which treatment may begin.
Addictions uses the relapse model to assist the client in avoiding situations
that may place the person at risk of using drugs or alcohol. In sexual
offending, this same model works in the same manner to avoid situations that
place the offender at risk of recidivating.
Offenders of deviant crimes do not wake up one morning and suddenly have an urge
to perform a violent act. Rapes and homicides of a serial nature happen through
a series of events, all of which lead up to the final act. It has been argued in
other articles by this author that even seemingly "random" or "impulsive"
offenses by a serial offender happen through a series of events. These events
are triggers to relapse, and the key to "recovery" is recognition by the
offender and how to avoid such situations.
An addict would want to avoid going to bars when angry or hanging out with a
group of users. A pedophile would want to avoid working with children or hanging
out in areas where children are not supervised. Avoid situations such as these
does not guarantee that an individual will not relapse, however it may help to
reduce the chances.
Cognitive distortions mentioned earlier are thinking errors on the part of an
offender that can increase the chances of relapse. An alcoholic in recovery may
believe that he can "handle" going into a bar to shoot pool or hang out with
friends. This is usually a poor decision, and in many cases leads to a lapse or
a relapse. The sex offender on the other hand may believe that he can be a scout
leader r work with the children in a church choir because he is not left alone
with the children. This also is a poor decision that may lead to a lapse
(fantasizing about children) or relapse (a sex offense).
Again, there is no "cure" for addiction or sexual offending. An individual is
said to be "in recovery", however the thinking errors mentioned above can lead
to further abuse of drugs and alcohol or sex offenses. Does treatment work? In
another article, I will be collecting some of the data presented in the
literature and post it here.
E-mail your questions or suggestions to
Bryan Nelson
