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. 2018 Oct 10;26(3):414-422.
doi: 10.1080/13218719.2018.1506718. eCollection 2019.

The role of moral disengagement and cognitive distortions toward children among sex offenders

Giulio D'Urso  1 , Irene Petruccelli  1 , Valentina Costantino  1 , Carla Zappulla  2 , Ugo Pace  1
Affiliations

The role of moral disengagement and cognitive distortions toward children among sex offenders

Giulio D'Urso et al. Psychiatr Psychol Law. .

Abstract

This study investigated the individual and social characteristics, moral disengagement strategies and cognitive distortions toward children among 120 sex offenders in Italian jails. A semistructured interview was administered to collect data about family, social and medical histories, utilizing the Moral Disengagement Scale and the Hanson Sex Attitude Questionnaire. Results showed that sex offenders with sexual abuse trauma in their past had higher scores of moral disengagement and cognitive distortion toward children than sex offenders without sexual abuse trauma. In particular, the highest levels of moral disengagement, cognitive distortions related to children as sexual objects and sexual entitlement were shown by sex offenders who had been physically and sexually abused in their past. Moreover, moral disengagement predicted cognitive distortions related to children being sexy and sexual entitlement. Studying self-regulatory mechanisms and cognitive distortions is important to expand the literature about sexual behaviors committed by offenders and implement the promotion of effective and targeted treatment strategies.

Keywords: cognitive distortions; moral disengagement; sex offenders.

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Conflict of interest statement

Giulio D’Urso has declared no conflicts of interest. Irene Petruccelli has declared no conflicts of interest. Valentina Costantino has declared no conflicts of interest. Carla Zappulla has declared no conflicts of interest. Ugo Pace has declared no conflicts of interest.

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