Psychotherapy with wives of sexual deviants

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Family Dynamics

Background:

• Examines the psychological impact on wives of men with deviant sexual behaviors, specifically pedophilia and exhibitionism.
• Challenges the stereotype of wives as cold and sexually unresponsive, as often depicted in literature and by their spouses.

Observation:

• Presents three case histories of wives whose husbands exhibited deviant sexual behaviors.
• These women often assumed responsibility for their husbands' deviance and attempted to manage it through sexual activity.
• Ego defense mechanisms such as denial, intellectualization, isolation of affect, and undoing were observed.

Findings:

• Wives may derive psychological benefits from their husbands' deviant acts, contributing to their continued association.
• The study refutes the stereotype of wives being cold and sexually unresponsive.
• Wives are integral to the dynamic system involving the deviant individual.

Implications:

• Recognizes the necessity of including wives in the treatment process for sexual deviance.
• Suggests that facilitating change in wives can positively influence the behavior of their husbands.
• Highlights the importance of addressing marital dynamics in the treatment of sexual offenders.