11.3: Treatment for Child Abuse Perpetrators
- Page ID
- 215522
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Treatment for Child Abuse Perpetrators
What treatments a person will receive depend largely on:
- the relationship to the victim.
- the type of assault committed.
- where the perpetrator resides when the treatment occurs (with the family, apart from the family, in prison, etc.)
- the goal of the therapy. (If family reunification is a goal, therapy will most likely eventually be conjoint with the victim.)
Familial perpetrators are commonly encountered through the Child Protective Services system, whereas extra-familial perpetrators are more likely encountered through the law-enforcement system. Extra-familial perpetrators are more likely to be incarcerated, less likely to have the goal of reunification with the victim and are therefore more likely to receive treatment separately from the victim.
The type of therapy used will be dependent upon the threat to public safety, the history of the perpetrator (how long has s/he been abusing, at what age did the abuse begin, what type/intensity of abuse, how long abuse of each victim lasted, etc.) Perpetrators are assessed individually at the beginning of treatment to help determine treatment goals and techniques. Many times, abuse is looked upon like other addictions; it can't be cured but can be managed. Specific goals of therapy, no matter the approach, include: (Crosson-Tower, p. 330)
- Accept personal responsibility for the abuse.
- Understand the sequence of feelings, events, stimuli, and circumstances that led to the offense.
- Learn to break the pattern at the first sign leading toward abuse.
- Learn appropriate tools and mechanisms to break the pattern and control the behavior.
- Develop a positive self-concept.
- Have an opportunity to test new skills in a safe environment.
- Have post treatment support to prevent recidivism.
Punishment vs. Treatment
Many of society believe that perpetrators of child abuse should be punished, not treated. The "lock them up and throw away the key", or "air drop them on a deserted island and let them fend for themselves" philosophies are born out of the intention of protecting children from the perpetrator's future abuse. While in prison, child sex abusers are looked upon as the bottom of the hierarchy. They are often victimized by other inmates; some are killed. (National Geographic; Prison for Child Molesters) In all reality, though, those perpetrators who do go to prison and survive will not stay imprisoned forever. They will eventually be returned to society where they will undoubtedly encounter children.
Regardless of the charges against a perpetrator, if they are to be released back into society, they need to go through rehabilitation. They also may need support systems (psychotherapy, medication, physical restrictions, etc.) in order to function safely and appropriately in society. Without these behavior modifications, the perpetrator may re-offend. With these behavior modifications, they can be helped to avoid situations that would lead to hurting another child.