What were they thinking? The cognition of women who sexually abuse children
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Kent
Department Name: Sch of Psychology
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Theresa Gannon (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Gannon T
(2008)
Female child sexual offenders: Towards integrating theory and practice
in Aggression and Violent Behavior
Gannon T
(2009)
Do female child molesters implicitly associate children and sex? A preliminary investigation
in Journal of Sexual Aggression
Gannon TA
(2008)
A descriptive model of the offense process for female sexual offenders.
in Sexual abuse : a journal of research and treatment
Gannon TA
(2009)
Offense-related interpretative bias in female child molesters: a preliminary study.
in Sexual abuse : a journal of research and treatment
| Description | This grant developed new knowledge about the belief systems of females who sexually offend. Prior to this research, little was known in this area and it was presumed that female sexual offenders' belief systems were similar to male sexual offenders' belief systems. The research outcomes associated with this grant showed that females who sexually offend against children hold very different beliefs to their male counterparts. In particular, they do not appear to sexualise children yet view men, in some circumstances, as being entitled to sexually abuse children or entitled to direct women to sexually abuse children. Another outcome of this research that was not initially anticipated was associated with knowledge about female sexual offenders' offence patterns. We generated important knowledge regarding the characteristics associated with female sexual offenders in the lead up to their offending. This knowledge proved to be extremely informative for treatment providers working with this unusual clinical population. |
| Exploitation Route | The findings outlined above have already been put to use by policy makers, academics, and treatment providers worldwide. Please see impact statement for information on how the findings associated with this grant are being used to aid both the assessment and treatment of female sexual offenders. In addition to this, the research outcomes associated with this grant has generated further hypotheses that are already being tested by a number of academics and researchers worldwide (e.g., Canada; Dr Franca Cortoni). |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Healthcare |
| Description | The findings outlined above have already been put to use by policy makers, academics, and treatment providers worldwide. For example, Correctional Service of Canada incorporate the findings regarding female sexual offenders' offence patterns into their training materials for facilitators who work with female sexual offenders. Assessment and Treatment Alternatives Inc. Philadelphia USA also use the offence patterns to underpin treatment assessment for each individual client as do the Lucy Faithfull Foundation (UK NGO child protection charity). In a summary of research and practice in the area of female sexual offending, the NSPCC cited the research outcomes associated with this grant as representing a clear step forward in informing the assessment and treatment of female sexual offenders (2011, p.9). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
| Sector | Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |