It is widely observed that child sexual offenders typically exhibit considerable reluctance to self-disclose at a level that reflects the full reality of their offending. Their successful engagement in relapse prevention-based programs is therefore problematic. This paper describes a study involving men undertaking a prototypical group treatment program, facing the challenge of revealing to others the details of their offense process. A procedure was developed to access their covert responses at the time of this encounter. From a grounded theory analysis, participants were found to employ various strategies to manage situations where self-disclosure was required. Four distinct disclosure management styles emerged: exploratory, oppositional, evasive, and placatory; the latter three of which appear unfavorable to effective engagement in treatment. As well as suggesting ways of influencing disclosure management style, analysis indicated that it might be possible to predict these different orientations during routine assessment.
Ainsworth, M.D.S., & Bowlby, J. (1991). An ethological approach to personality development . American Psychologist, 46, 333-341.
2.
Barker, M., & Morgan, R. (1993). Sex offenders: A framework for the evaluation of community-based treatment. London: Home Office.
3.
Bartholomew, K. (1990). Avoidance of intimacy: An attachment perspective . Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 7, 147-178.
4.
Beech, A., & Fordham, A.S. (1997). Therapeutic climate of sexual offender treatment programs. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment , 9, 219-223.
5.
Bickley, J.A., & Beech, A.R. (2002). An investigation of the Ward and Hudson Pathways Model of the sexual offense process with child abusers. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17(4), 371-393.
6.
Charmaz, K. (1995). Grounded theory. In J. A. Smith, R. Harre, & L. V. Langenhove (Eds.), Rethinking methods in psychology (pp. 27-49). London: Sage.
7.
Davison, D.C., Robins, C., & Johnson, M.K. (1983). Articulated thoughts during simulated situations: A paradigm for studying cognition in emotion and behavior. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 7(1), 17-40.
8.
Fernandez, Y.M., & Marshall, W.L. (2000). Contextual issues in relapse prevention treatment. In D. R. Laws, S. M. Hudson, & T. Ward (Eds.), Remaking relapse prevention with sex offenders: A sourcebook (pp. 225-235). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
9.
Fisher, D., & Beech, A.R. (1999). Current practice in Britain with sexual offenders . Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 14(3), 240-256.
10.
Garland, R.J., & Dougher, M.J. (1991). Motivational interventions in The treatment of sex offenders. In W. R. Miller & M. S. Rollnick (Eds.), Motivational interviewing: Preparing people to change addictive behavior (pp. 303-313). New York: Guildford Press.
11.
Gilgun, J.F. (1992). Hypothesis generation in social work research . Journal of Social Service Research, 15(314), 113-135.
12.
Glaser, B. (1978). Theoretical sensitivity: Advances in the methodology of grounded theory. San Francisco: Sociology Press.
13.
Glaser, B., & Strauss, A. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory. Chicago: Aldine.
14.
Henwood, K.L., & Pidgeon, N.F. (1992). Qualitative research and psychological theorising . British Journal of Psychology, 83, 97-111.
15.
Hudson, S.M., Wales, D.S., & Ward, T. (1998). Kia Marama: A treatment program for child molesters in New Zealand. In W. L. Marshall, Y. M. Fernandez, S. M. Hudson, & T. Ward (Eds.), Sourcebook of treatment for sexual offenders (pp. 17-28). New York: Plenum.
16.
Kear-Colwell, J., & Pollock, P. (1997). Motivation or confrontation: Which approach to the child sex offender? Criminal Justice and Behavior, 24(1), 20-33.
17.
Laws, D.R. (1998). Relapse prevention: The state of the art. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 14(3), 285-302.
18.
Marshall, W.L. (1999). Current status of North American Assessment and Treatment Programs for Sexual Offenders. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 14(3), 221-239.
19.
Marshall, W.L., & Anderson, D. (2000). Do relapse prevention components enhance treatment effectiveness ? In R. Laws, S. Hudson, & T. Ward (Eds.), Remaking relapse prevention with sex offenders: A sourcebook (pp. 39-55). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
20.
Marshall, W. L., Fernandez, Y. M., Hudson, S. M., & Ward, T. (Eds.). (1998). Sourcebook of treatment for sexual offenders. New York : Plenum.
21.
Marshall, W.L., Fernandez, Y.M., Serran, G.A., Mulloy, R., Thornton, D., Mann, R.E., et al. (2003). Process variables in the treatment of sexual offenders: A review of the relevant literature. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 8, 205-234.
22.
Maykut, P., & Morehouse, R. (1994). Beginning qualitative research: A philosophic and practical guide. London: Falmer Press.
23.
Pithers,W.D., Marques, J.K., Gibat, C.C., & Marlatt, G.A. (1983). Relapse prevention with sexual aggressives: A self-control model of treatment and maintenance of change. In J. G. Greer & I. R. Stuart (Eds.), The sexual aggressor: Current perspectives on treatment (pp. 214-234). New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
24.
Rennie, D.L., Phillips, J.R., & Quartaro, G.K. (1988). Grounded theory: A promising approach to conceptualisation in psychology? Canadian PsychologylPsychologie Canadienne, 29(2), 139-150.
25.
Riessman, C. K. (Ed.). (1994). Qualitative studies in social work research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
26.
Salter, A.C. (1988). Treating child sex offenders and victims: A practical guide. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
27.
Scheela, R.A. (1992). The remodelling process: A grounded theory study of perceptions of treatment among adult male incest offenders. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 18(3/4), 167-189.
28.
Scheela, R.A., & Stem, P.N. (1994). Falling apart: A process integral to the remodelling of male incest Offenders. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing , 8(2), 91-100.
29.
Smallbone, S.W., & Dadds, M.R. (1998). Childhood attachment and adult attachment in incarcerated adult male sex offenders. Journal of Interpersonal Violence , 13(5), 555-573.
30.
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
31.
Tierney, D.W., & McCabe, M.P. (2002) Motivation for behavior change among sex offenders: A review of the literature. Clinical Psychological Review, 22, 113-129.
32.
Ward, T., & Hudson, S.M. (2000). A self-regulation model of relapse prevention . In D. R. Laws, S. M. Hudson, & T. Ward (Eds.), Remaking relapse prevention with sex offenders: A sourcebook (pp. 79-101). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
33.
Ward, T., Hudson, S.M., Marshall, W.M., & Siegert, R. (1995). Attachment Style and Intimacy Deficits in Sex Offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment , 7, 317-335.
