Arts & Social Sciences
Te Kura Kete Aronui

Abstract

Maude, J. (1996). Empathy in child sex offenders: a preliminary evaluation of a therapy module designed to enhance victim empathy

The aim of this investigation was to assess and compare the empathetic ability of seven incarcerated incest offenders who had volunteered to undergo treatment at the Te Piriti Special Treatment Unit. Using a multiple case study design, this study aimed at evaluating the therapeutic efficiency of the Victim Impact therapy module (designed to enhance empathy) through the pre-and post-treatment administration of a series of both qualitative and quantitative measures of general and victim specific empathy.

Pre-therapy, results indicate that this sample of incest offenders possessed an average level of general empathy in comparison with a sample of non offenders, yet lacked the ability to empathize with their victim/s. Post treatment assessments revealed positive changes in the offenders' ability to empathize with their victim. However levels of general empathy remained the same.

The findings of this investigation suggest that (at least for this sample) incest offenders seem to exhibit increased levels of concern for their victims as a result of undergoing specialized therapeutic interventions designed to enhance victim empathy. However as the treatment of child sex offenders involves more than just empathy enhancement further research is required to determine if these changes in victim empathy are associated with long term recidivism.