Assessment, Treatment, and Theorizing About Sex Offenders

This article considers developments during the past 20 years in the assessment and treatment of sex offenders and in theoretical interpretations of their behavior. Research is reviewed indicating that in assessment there is a move toward including more cognitive features. One interpretation of the evidence to date suggests that phallometry has been overvalued and that considerable work remains to be done on the psychometric aspects of erectile measurement. Treatment also has moved in a more cognitive direction, but the addition of a relapse prevention approach has been the most significant innovation. A focus on treating juveniles has been a major development during the past 10 years. Theory development is accelerating, but there needs to be more emphasis on developing and refining our specific constructs rather than elaborating broad explanatory theories. Future developments are suggested.

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