Based on the theory of cognitive dissonance and the understanding of cognitive distortions as defense mechanisms, we argued that individuals convicted of sexual offenses diagnosed with exclusive pedophilia (epICSOC) report more child offense related cognitive distortions compared to individuals convicted of sexual offenses without such diagnosis (oICSOC). In the present study, we aimed to empirically validate these clinical observations and previous results by relating cognitive distortions to four measures of pedophilic preference, namely, a clinical diagnosis of pedophilia, viewing time captured and self-reported pedophilic preference (EISIP; as well as the SSPI-2). Results revealed that cognitive distortions in general and minimizing sexually offending behavior toward children or attributing sexual interest to children in particular, significantly correlated with all four measures of pedosexual preference. Regression analyses, furthermore, indicated that attributing sexual interest to children was the best predictor for a pedosexual preference. Results thus show that cognitive distortions typically associated with child molesting in general are, in fact, more common in individuals convicted of sexual offenses diagnosed with exclusive pedophilia than in those without such diagnosis.

Introduction Cognitive distortions associated with child molesters are pathological but functional, allowing an offender to commit an offense and justify it afterwards. Examples for such distortions are, among others, the assumption that children want to have sex with adults as well as the attitude that sexual molestation of a child is not harmful. Objectives We investigated the relationship between cognitive distortions and the clinical diagnosis of a pedophilic disorder. Our hypothesis was that a pedophilic disorder rather than a sexual offense against a child is associated with cognitive distortions. Methods A questionnaire concerning child-offense-related cognitive distortions was developed and completed by N = 632 sex offenders (N = 462 child molesters) serving a prison term in Austria because of a sexual offense. Each offender was assigned to one of four groups (= sex offenders with adult victims, child molesters without a diagnosis of pedophilia, child molesters with non-exclusive pedophilia, child molesters with exclusive pedophilia). The data underwent a factorial analysis, and factors and the total scores were examined with regard to group differences. Results The present study provides evidence that there is a relationship between holding on to these so-called child molester myths and the degree of pedophilia, with offenders diagnosed with exclusive pedophilia exhibiting the most cognitive distortions. Attitudes that can be understood in psychodynamic terms as a projection of one's own sexual deviance onto the child are most strongly related to exclusive pedophilia. Conclusion Cognitive distortions, therefore, can be understood as the defense mechanisms of a pedophilic disposition and may also be of diagnostic value.

Zusammenfassung Einleitung Unter kindesmissbrauchsspezifischen kognitiv verzerrten Sichtweisen versteht man pathologische Wahrnehmungsverzerrungen, die es einem Täter ermöglichen, sexuelle Übergriffe auf Kinder zu bahnen und nach den Tathandlungen zu rechtfertigen. Zu diesen Verzerrungen zählen unter anderem die Annahmen, dass Kinder Sex mit Erwachsenen wünschen oder dass sexuelle Handlungen von Erwachsenen an Kindern diesen keinen Schaden zufügen. Forschungsziele Zusammenhänge zwischen solchen Verzerrungen und dem Störungsbild einer Pädophilie wurden untersucht. Insbesondere verfolgten wir dabei die Hypothese, dass kognitive Verzerrungen Ausdruck eines klinischen Störungsbildes sind und nicht lediglich mit dem Umstand einhergehen, ein Kind sexuell zu missbrauchen. Methoden Dafür wurde ein Fragebogen entwickelt, der N = 632 Tätern (davon N = 462 an Kindern) vorgelegt wurde, die in Österreich ein Sexualdelikt begangen hatten und deshalb eine Haftstrafe verbüßten. Die Täter wurden jeweils einer von insgesamt vier Gruppen zugeordnet (Sexualstraftäter mit erwachsenen Opfern, Kindesmissbrauchstäter ohne Diagnose einer Pädophilie, Kindesmissbrauchstäter mit nicht-ausschließlicher Pädophilie, Kindesmissbrauchstäter mit ausschließlicher Pädophilie). Die Ergebnisse wurden einer Faktorenanalyse unterzogen, die einzelnen Faktoren und der Gesamtwert auf Unterschiede zwischen den Tätergruppen überprüft. Ergebnisse Die vorliegenden Daten legen den Schluss nahe, dass nicht der Umstand allein, ein Kind sexuell zu missbrauchen, mit solchen Verzerrungen einhergeht, sondern vielmehr die Diagnose einer pädophilen Störung. Insbesondere Personen mit der Diagnose einer ausschließlichen pädophilen Störung gaben derartige Kindesmissbrauchsmythen an. Vor allem Glaubenssätze, die aus psychodynamischer Sicht als Spaltung, Projektion und projektive Identifizierung der eigenen Devianz auf Kinder verstanden werden können, waren bei gegebener Diagnose einer exklusiven pädophilen Störung am stärksten ausgeprägt. Schlussfolgerung Wahrnehmungsverzerrungen können als Abwehrmechanismen einer pädophilen Störung verstanden werden, die auch zur Untermauerung der Diagnose dienen können.

Risk Matrix 2000’s ability to assess relative risk for sexual and violent recidivism has been well established through meta-analysis. However, the instrument was originally designed for use in the United Kingdom and has not been widely tested in other parts of Europe, raising questions about how generalizable the results are. This paper assessed the instrument’s ability to assess relative risk for these outcomes in a sample of over 300 Austrian adult males serving a prison sentence for a sexual offense for whom 5-year rates of sexual and violent recidivism were available. Results indicated an ability to assess relative risk that was comparable to that observed in the United Kingdom. In the context of previous results from Germany, the findings of the present study indicate that Risk Matrix 2000 may be appropriately applied in Europe. Analyses explored the added value of using the Sexual and Violence risk scales in conjunction to identify the kinds of criminogenic need that should be addressed in treatment and supervision.

In this article we present the new five-level risk system of a criterion referenced prediction measure for communicating the risk of sexual offenders (HANsoN et al. 2017a). We used the German version of the Static-99 for creating these risk categories. The new Static-99 categories were found to be linked to significantly different reoffense rates in a large cohort of prison released sexual offenders (n = 1679) followed up for at least 5 years. The reoffense rate of the middle category was always presenting the category with its risk at the base rate of the population ("average") - independently of the sex offender subgroup analyzed. Two categories with higher risk ("above average", "well above average") and lower risk ("below average", "low") could be separated. Finally, a framework fora non arbitrary risk communication in combining relative and absolute risk measures for sexual offenders is presented. Therefore, applying this model for risk communication of sexual offenders is recommended.