title: Fantasy-Driven Versus Contact-Driven Users of Child Sexual Exploitation Material: Offender Classification and Implications for Their Risk Assessment.
abstract: Since the advent of the Internet, convictions for the possession, display, trading, and distribution of child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) have risen steadily, but little is known about their appropriate assessment and treatment, especially concerning their risk of reoffending. It has been suggested that a conceptual distinction of fantasy- versus contact-driven CSEM users might be of merit. Sixty-eight offenders recruited from sex offender treatment providers were assessed via an anonymous computer survey including a variety of clinical and risk-related variables; the findings showed differences in the psychological profiles between CSEM users and contact child sex offenders. Numerical and spatial methods of data analysis were used to identify subgroups of CSEM users; these confirmed the twofold distinction of fantasy- versus contact-driven offending. The spatial representation of participants identified three dimensions as crucial in the classification of these subgroups: direct sexual contact with a minor, possession of fantasy-generating material, and social contact with other users with a sexual interest in minors; potentially differentiating distinct offender subgroups with different risks and needs. The current study informed the development of an empirical model of CSEM users that could aid in the assessment of risk of reoffending and cross-over to contact sex offending.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Lincoln, UK.
authors.forename: Hannah L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Merdian
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Lincoln, UK.
authors.forename: Nima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moghaddam
authors.affiliation: 2 The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Douglas P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Boer
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Corrections, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: 2 The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thakker
authors.affiliation: 2 The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Cate
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Lincoln, UK.
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dawson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology*; D004882:Erotica / Q000523:psychology*; D005201:Fantasy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: child pornography; child sexual abuse; child sexual exploitation material; cognitive distortions; sexual abuse; sexual offender