We are pleased to announce that FCRG members Dr Hannah Merdian, Dr Nima Moghaddam, and Dr Dave Dawson (in conjunction with numerous other external co-authors) have just had a new paper published in Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment.
Using a sample of 68 offenders, the study had two core goals: (1) to determine whether the offending profile of ‘child sexual exploitation material offenders’ (CSEMOs) is distinct to contact child sexual offenders (CSOs); and (2) to investigate whether distinct subgroups of CSEM users can be empirically differentiated.
Using numerical and spatial methods of data analysis on a variety of clinical and risk-related variables, the results supported the dichotomous distinction between fantasy-driven versus contact-driven CSEM offending. Further analyses identified three dimensions as crucial for the classification of these two subgroups: (a) direct sexual contact with a minor; (b) possession of fantasy-generating material, and (c) social contact with other users that have a sexual interest in minors. This study offers important new insights into the understanding the risks and needs of CSEM users.
Citation: Hannah L. Merdian, Nima Moghaddam, Douglas P. Boer, Nick Wilson, Jo Thakker, Cate Curtis, and Dave Dawson (2016). Fantasy-Driven Versus Contact-Driven Users of Child Sexual Exploitation Material: Offender Classification and Implications for Their Risk Assessment. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment. doi:10.1177/1079063216641109