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Empathy

Definition, Enhancement, and Relevance to the Treatment of Sexual Abusers

Griffith University—Gold Coast

Enhancement of empathy for victims of sexual abuse may foster a more meaningful therapeutic involvement in sex offenders and may deter relapses. The author presents three studies. In experiment one, a contextual empathy deficit was manifested by sexual abusers while they were experiencing the mood state that preceded their past offenses. In experiment two, a process evaluation of a structured empathy enhancing treatment group was performed. In experiment three, abusers who had completed the empathy enhancing treatment group were again required to complete the empathy measure while experiencing the mood precursive to past offenses. Collectively, these experiments demonstrated that: (a) a contextual empathy deficit existed when sexual abusers were experiencing affective precursors to abuse, (b) specialized treatment enhanced abusers' empathy for victims, and (c) treatment effectively eliminated the contextual empathy deficit that was otherwise evident during precursive moods. Empathy enhancement for sexual abuse survivors must be regarded as a key component of sexual abuser treatment programs.

Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 14, No. 3, 257-284 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/088626099014003004


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