need soon

The Sexual Offense Cycle

The cycle of offending will be different for each sexual offense type.

Build-up: Fantasy about pleasure and excitement->building sexual interest (using pornography)-> Avoiding interventions

Pre-Act out: (high risk factor occurring without intervention)-> deviant fantasies and masturbation->planning the assault->search for victim-> commitment to do the assault->gaining access to victim
*Child molester could begin grooming

Act out: The sexual assault (can take many forms, exhibitionism, voyeurism, sexual assault a child, rape teen/adult)
*some sex offenses are impulsive (exhibitionism, voyeurism, rape)
*assault of child could involve touching as a build-up to offending-> acting out stage could be much longer

Justification: Fear and guilt-> suppression emotions-> defense mechanisms (cognitive distortions, rationalizations to deny the sexual offense, harm to victim, emotions, etc.), vowing never to do it again (false resolve)->

Pretend Normal: working hard to deny deviant behavior to self-> playing the ‘good guy’-> (trying to return to normal life at home and at work)->Routine to daily routine->boredom

Triggering Event: external event that evokes entering cycle->could be seeing a child (child molester)-> other life events (financial problems, family issues, getting fired, having a fight, drug/alcohol)->lack of appropriate interventions