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Female sexual abusers' cognition: a systematic review
Theresa A Gannon1, Emma K A Alleyne
1Centre of Research and Education in Forensic Psychology, School of Psychology, Keynes College, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NP, UK. t.a.gannon@kent.ac.uk
Trauma, Violence & Abuse
|October 25, 2012
Summary
This review examines offense-supportive cognition in female sexual abusers. Understanding these cognitive patterns is crucial for developing effective, evidence-based treatments for female sexual offenders.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Criminology
Background:
- Historically, research on sexual offending predominantly focused on male perpetrators.
- This oversight has led to inadequate or misapplied treatment programs for female sexual abusers.
- While similarities exist between male and female offenders, distinct characteristics require dedicated study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review existing literature on offense-supportive cognition in female sexual abusers.
- To evaluate research on implicit theories, rape myth acceptance, violence-supportive cognition, gender stereotypes, beliefs about sex, and empathy in this population.
- To assist clinicians in providing more effective, empirically-driven treatment for female sexual offenders.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review.
- Analysis of studies examining cognitive factors associated with sexual offending in females.
- Synthesis of findings related to implicit theories, rape myths, and empathy.
Main Results:
- Limited research currently exists on the specific cognitive patterns of female sexual abusers.
- Existing literature suggests both shared and unique cognitive characteristics compared to male offenders.
- Key areas for investigation include implicit theories, rape myth acceptance, and empathy.
Conclusions:
- Further empirical research is essential to understand the offense-supportive cognition of female sexual abusers.
- This research is necessary for the development of tailored and effective clinical interventions.
- Bridging the knowledge gap will enhance evidence-based practices in treating female sexual offenders.
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