The development of the Children, Internet, and Sex Cognitions (CISC) scale: understanding the cognitions of child sexual exploitation material offenders

Distorted cognition has been identified as a factor that could potentially differentiate child sexual exploitation material offenders (CSEMOs) and contact sexual offenders (CSOs) (Briggs, Simon, & Simonsen, 2011; Merdian, Curtis, Thakker, Wilson & Boer, 2011). These distinctions have been measured using scales that measure distorted cognitions in CSOs and CSEMOs (i.e. Howitt & Sheldon, 2007), with no existing scale that solely measures cognitions in the latter. This presentation will explore the construction of a measure designed specifically for the cognitions of CSEMOs. Expert knowledge on the cognitions of this typology of offender was obtained from a survey completed by professionals’ experienced in working with CSEMOs. Participants were asked if, and how, existing implicit theories (Ward & Keenan, 1999) may apply to CSEMOs. Items for the scale were generated following a thematic analysis of the survey responses, which resulted in a 108-item scale named Children, Internet, and Sex Cognitions (CISC). The thematic analysis elicited four overarching themes, namely perception of children, nonsexual, level of harm and sexual deviancy, which comprise of ten subthemes. The development of the CISC will help further explore the hypothesis that there are differing typologies of CSEMOs. In this talk the development of the CISC will be explored in terms of reference to the hypothesis that there are differing typologies of CSEMOs (Briggs, Simon & Simonsen, 2011) and how the identified themes may relate to implicit theories (Ward & Keenan, 1999). Theoretical and clinical implications of developing the CISC will be explored, including its potential use in future research to aid the understanding of this typology of offender and to further explore how they may differ from CSOs. Preliminary validation of the CISC will also be discussed.