What were they thinking? The cognition of women who sexually abuse children

Gannon, Theresa (2016). What were they thinking? The cognition of women who sexually abuse children. [Data Collection]. Colchester, Essex: Economic and Social Research Council. 10.5255/UKDA-SN-850061

Data description (abstract)

This research investigates women child molesters' (WCMs) cognition. In Study 1, WCMs are asked to self-report a preliminary picture of their offence-supportive beliefs via interview. Study 2 will examine whether these beliefs really are stored in WCMs' minds. In brief, WCMs and non-WCMs are presented with a series of words to group. Research shows that people are faster at putting words into a group if the group name fits with that person's beliefs. So, if WCMs think that children want sex with adults, they should find it easier and quicker to sort words into a children-sex category compared to non-WCMs. In Study 3, I examine whether the beliefs from Studies 1 and 2 really affect how WCMs interpret children's behaviour. WCMs and non-WCMs are given ambiguous statements to read (eg, "A young boy is staring at you") and then after a delay are shown a similar statement that has been changed. This statement will either support abuse (eg, "A young boy is staring at you provocatively") or not (eg., "A young boy is staring at you innocently"). If WCMs originally interpret the ambiguous statement in an abusive way, they will recognise abusive statements more readily and quickly than non-WCMs.

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