Treatment acceptability ratings for sexual offenders: Effects of diagnosis and offense.

Skills Training

May 2021

Full Citation

Lundervold, D. A., & Young, L. G. (1992). Treatment acceptability ratings for sexual offenders: Effects of diagnosis and offense. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 13(3), 229-237. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0891-4222%2892%2990027-4

Abstract

Obtained treatment acceptability ratings for mentally retarded and nondisabled (normal) sex offenders across 3 different offenses (masturbation, rape, and child fondling) and 8 interventions. Ratings were obtained from 56 respondents (aged 18-44 yrs) to a survey on treatment of sexual offenders. For both diagnostic groups, social-sexual skills training (SST) was the most acceptable treatment except in cases of rape, fondling of a minor, and public masturbation. For these offenses, SST was as acceptable as aversive treatments and incarceration. The addition of a positive treatment component to a preexisting aversive intervention did not result in significantly different acceptability ratings relative to ratings of aversive interventions alone. The respondent's history as a victim of sexual abuse did not affect treatment acceptability ratings for prison, medication, or use of noxious odors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)