Empathy and Sexual Offending: Theory, Research and Practice

Abstract

In this chapter we review theories about the nature of empathy deficits in sex offenders, we consider what the evidence indicates regarding these proposed problems, and we review the ways in which these purported deficits have been addressed in treatment. Theorists differ in how they conceptualize empathy deficits among sex offenders, and some theorists have challenged the basis of this idea. Research has, for the most part, been based on the assumption that such deficits do exist. Research efforts have been, therefore, aimed at describing the extent of empathy deficits among sex offenders. However, it became apparent quite early that these deficits, in so far as they existed, were not toward all people or even toward all sexual abuse victims but rather only apparent when considering the offender’s own victim(s). Treatment has been directed at enhancing empathy either toward all people, toward all victims of sexual abuse, or only toward the offenders’ own victims. Contrary to the assumptions underlying these approaches, empathy deficits have not been shown to be criminogenic (i.e., predict reoffending) and yet evidence indicates that only criminogenic features should be the targets of treatment. To bolster this point, no one has yet shown that enhancing empathy reduces reoffending. We concluded that theoretical, research, and treatment efforts with sex offenders would be better directed at other more salient issues.