Attitudes Supportive of Sexual Offending Predict Recidivism: A Meta-Analysis. (January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Helmus, Leslie; Hanson, R. Karl; Babchishin, Kelly M.; Mann, Ruth E.
• Other Names: Gannon Theresa A. guest-editor.; Ward Tony guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Trauma, violence & abuse. Volume 14:Number 1(2013)
• Page Start: 34
• Page End: 53
• Publication Date: 2013-01
• Subjects: attitudes -- cognitive distortions -- recidivism -- sex offenders -- meta-analysis; Child abuse -- Periodicals; Post-traumatic stress disorder in children -- Periodicals; Violence -- Periodicals; Family violence -- Periodicals; Violence envers les enfants -- Périodiques; Violence familiale -- Périodiques; Névroses post-traumatiques -- Périodiques; 616.8521
• DOI: 10.1177/1524838012462244
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1524-8380

Abstract

Attitudes supportive of sexual offending figure prominently in theories of sexual offending, as well as in contemporary assessment and treatment practices with sex offenders. Based on 46 samples ( n = 13, 782), this meta-analysis found that attitudes supportive of sexual offending had a small, yet reasonably consistent, relationship with sexual recidivism (Cohen's d = .22). To the extent that differences were observed, attitudes predicted recidivism better for child molesters than for rapists. There was no difference in the predictive accuracy of attitudes assessed at pretreatment or at posttreatment. The current study indicates that attitudes supportive of sexual offending is a psychologically meaningful risk factor for sex offenders. However, given that many different constructs have been designated as sex offender attitudes, further research and theory is needed to understand how these various constructs contribute to recidivism.