Enhancing victim empathy for sex offenders.
Victim empathy is a widely used component of sex offender treatment throughout North America and Great Britain. Yet, it has been controversial over the past few years. One of the complications involves giving empathy a solid definition. Empathy was defined as the capacity to express compassion for victims. A multi-level system was developed to help specify the definition. The second issue concerns which methods to use in enhancing victim empathy. A variety of techniques are provided as specific ways in which clinicians can help enhance an offender's empathy level.
Carich
Mark S
MS
Big Muddy Correctional Center, 439 Chapel Drive, Ina, IL 62846-1000, USA.
Metzger
Carole K
CK
Baig
Mirza S A
MS
Harper
Joseph J
JJ
D003071:Cognition; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004645:Empathy; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology; D012938:Social Perception; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States