A theoretical framework for understanding deviant sexual interest and cognitive distortions as overlapping constructs contributing to sexual offending against children

Most current research and theory accepts implicitly or explicitly that there is a relationship between deviant sexual interest and cognitive distortions surrounding sexual contact with children. However the current literature is lacking a framework by which deviant interest and offense supportive or facilitative cognitive structures or processes may interact. Recent advances in the application of indirect measures of cognitive distortions and sexual deviance have indicated a potential utility of such measures as alternatives or adjuncts to existing measures such as penile plethysmography, viewing time tasks and questionnaires. However, without a coherent theory of what these subtle tasks are measuring and how constructs such as offense-supportive schema and deviant sexual interest interact, it will be difficult to make sense of current findings and indeed to agree on best practice for the use of indirect measures in clinical assessment. This article discusses the cognitive structures and processes involved in both cognitive distortions and deviant sexual interest and explores how they might overlap and interact in facilitating and maintaining offending behavior.

Research highlights
► The paper summarizes existing literature on cognitive distortions in sexual offenders against children.
► The paper also summarizes literature on sexual interest and novel ways of measuring sexual interest.
► The paper discusses the overlap of sexual interest and cognitive distortions.
► The paper proposes a framework by which sexual interest and cognitive distortions may interact.