Hart, Georgia
(2024)
An examination of factors impacting forensic professionals working with people who have offended sexually, with a focus on polymorphic offenders.
DForenPsy thesis, University of Nottingham.
Abstract
The provision of therapeutic care that forensic professionals provide to people who have offended sexually, often exposes them to personal and professional challenges. It is recognised that this population are frequently stigmatised based on the nature and severity of their crimes, which often precipitate emotional reactions and perpetuate negative attitudes towards them. The thesis examined factors impacting forensic professionals working therapeutically with individuals who have offended sexually, with a focus on polymorphic offenders. This allowed for insights and observations to be made about a more complex and diverse type of offending behaviour. It also considered the role that attitudes towards this population have on therapeutic engagements, comparing attitudes expressed by wider society too. This allowed for greater reflection on the attitudinal differences between such groups, comparing forensic professionals and the general public.
A systematic review examined the impact of the “cost of caring” (vicarious traumatisation, secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, burnout; Figley, 1995; McCann & Pearlman, 1990) amongst forensic professionals working therapeutically with people who have offended sexually. The review identified differences in the findings, suggesting that forensic professionals working with this population had both positive and negative outcomes. The findings highlighted that working with individuals who have offended sexually can be challenging for forensic professionals, which can lead to more negative outcomes such as the “cost of caring”. This was more likely if the forensic professional had a personal trauma history, were male, and worked within a secure environment (e.g., prison or inpatient). However, the findings found that when an organisation implements the effective use of clinical supervisions; collegial support; reflective practices; and a safe work environment to reflect on their experiences; such challenges and susceptibilities to developing the “cost of caring” can be mitigated. This review highlighted the relevance of implementing such organisational factors to allow forensic professionals to develop their emotional awareness, reflective capacity, and resilience; and thus, increasing positive outcomes.
A quantitative study found that forensic professionals expressed more positive attitudes towards males who have offended sexually, when compared to the general public. It was hypothesised that forensic professionals’ attitudes were influenced by the specialist training they had completed as part of their professional accreditation, as well as their increased therapeutic engagements with this population. The study also found a slight increase in positive attitudes expressed by younger and more highly educated members of the general public. Further exploration is required to identify whether this reflects a “generational shift” of attitudes occurring amongst the student population. This study found that demographic factors, personality traits, and pre-existing attitudes towards males who have offended sexually significantly predicted risk ratings of those displaying polymorphism. However, only age, group, education, and traits of openness to experience had individually significant contributions. This analysis found that participants rated males displaying polymorphism in terms of victim relationship (intrafamilial or extrafamilial) as the highest risk of recidivism in comparison to those displaying age and gender polymorphism.
A psychometric critique evaluated the Attitudes to Sexual Offenders Scale–21 developed by Hogue and Harper (2019). The authors of the measure found good psychometric properties in terms of reliability and validity. However, the preliminary evidence that was used in the development of the measure did not include norms about participants’ ethnicity, culture, and social class, therefore indicating a potential bias in the psychometric and limiting its use. This evaluation also highlighted the conceptual and ethical issues with using the term “sex offender” in an attitudinal measurement. Arguably, by using the term “sex offender” in statements on the measure, reinforces adverse stereotypes of this population and influences potentially inaccurate responses. A confirmatory factor analysis identified inconsistencies in the three-factor structure (intent, social distance, trust) that was validated by Hogue and Harper (2019) to reflect Breckler’s (1984) model of attitudes (affect, behaviour, cognition). This analysis extracted three new factors which are discussed.
A single case study included a forensic professional working therapeutically with a male who had offended sexually and displayed polymorphism. This study highlighted the lack of research about therapeutic interventions with individuals displaying polymorphism and need for further exploration. This study included an assessment, formulation and intervention; using psychometrics, clinical interviews, and functional assessments. A compassion focused approach was utilised, due to the complex nature of the client’s crimes appearing to stem from adversity and subsequent difficulties with shame and self-criticism. The client displayed clinically significant improvements and appeared responsive to the adapted intervention at a six-month follow-up. This case study displayed positive outcomes for both the forensic professional and Client X, which was likely influenced by the compassion focused approach, encouraging collaboration and the establishment of a therapeutic rapport, increasing overall positive outcomes.
The thesis concludes that forensic professionals’ therapeutic engagements with individuals who have offended sexually can have both positive and negative outcomes. It recognises that whilst such engagements can be challenging, organisational approaches can be implemented to mitigate this risk. It highlights the importance of utilising compassion focused and trauma-informed approaches with this population, in increasing positive therapeutic outcomes for the individual and forensic professional. Further research is needed to develop greater insight into working with polymorphic offending behaviours and to develop guidance on therapeutic interventions targeting this risk.
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