Imprisoned Sex Offenders' Chronic Denial and their Childhood Family Environment

In: The open family studies journal, Band 7, Heft 1, S. 42-47

Abstract

Statistics in South Africa shows that sex offences are among the crimes that invoke the most public concern as
anywhere else in the world. The number of sentenced sex offenders is increasing and denial by the sex offender is
regarded as a risk factor for re-offending. Sex offenders who chronically deny their offenses are not only perceived as
having a greater likelihood of recidivism, but additional questions about their childhood experiences and their experiences
in their families of origin are also raised. This study described the family environment of non-admitting sex offenders and
explored whether any family characteristics influenced their denial of the sexual offence. Qualitative research was applied
and ten (10) incarcerated, non-admitting sex offenders were purposively selected from a Correctional Facility in the
Western Cape. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants and Social Learning Theory was used as a
lens to understand the dynamics. The findings of this study highlighted that most participants were raised in single-parent
households with absent father figures, which had implications for their masculine identities and roles. These families were
characterized by challenges such as domestic violence, substance abuse, unsatisfactory support and compromised
parenting styles.