International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Shame and Guilt in Sex Offenders Shame and Guilt in Child Sexual Offenders

Abstract: In this article, the authors build on previous discussions of the possible role of shameand guilt in sexual offending. They review the general psychological literature on shame and guilt and conclude that the distinction between internal and external shame is an impor-tant one in considering sexual offenders. The effects of shame and guilt on victim empathy and relapse are discussed, and it is proposed that the phenomena of shame and guilt have implica-tions for treatment beyond those identified in previous studies. Shame is a salient feature in the initial presentation of many sexual offenders against children. Furthermore, aspects of the treatment of sexual offenders can be characterized as a shift from shame toward guilt. Implica-tions of shame and guilt for treatment of sexual offenders are described. Shame and guilt have been discussed infrequently in the treatment literature for sexual offenders. Reference to these constructs has been made in the context of victim empathy (Hanson, 1997; Roys, 1997) and relapse prevention (Hudson, Ward, & Marshall, 1992). More recently, Bumby, Marshall, and Langton (1999) proposed a theoreticalmodel of the influence of shame and guilt on sexual offend-ing. These authors suggested that the experience of shame following sexual offending results in decreased self-efficacy, decreased ability to use adaptive cop-ing, increased personal distress, externalization of blame, increased cognitive dis-tortions, and decreased victim-specific empathy, all of which increase the risk of reoffending. Bumby et al. suggested that conversely, the experience of guilt leads to an examination by offenders of the effects of offences on victims, reparative action, increased self-efficacy and ability to identify adaptive coping responses, and decreased risk of reoffending. They recommended treatment approaches that emphasize guilt rather than shame, suggesting that sexual offenders are more likely to experience shame than guilt. Although we agree with the points made by Bumby et al. (1999), we note that their andother authors’discussions of shamehave emphasizedone aspect of shame