Date of Award

10-3-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Criminal Justice

First Advisor

Tusty ten Bensel

Abstract

The cycle of violence hypothesis assumes individuals who are subjected to abuse as children have an increased probability of becoming sexual abusers in the future. This hypothesis has frequently been applied to the etiological development of sex offending. The majority of existing literature has focused on long-term consequences of child sexual abuse for females, neglecting how sexual victimization can affect males. The purpose of the current study is to examine the relationship between adult male sex offenders and their abusers in efforts to understand their experiences with sexual abuse. Data was derived from 40 interviews with adult male sex offenders who disclosed a history of child sexual abuse and 40 interviews with those who did not. Interview narratives were supplemented by offender files, which included personal history questionnaire, court records, investigative files, probation and parole reports, and offender statements. The results of this study will provide insight into this subgroup of sex offenders and potential treatment initiatives.

Included in

Criminology Commons

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