An Update on Theories and Treatment of Sex Offenders

This chapter aims to provide an overview of the theories and treatments of sex offenders. Sex offence is a major public health and social problem, a violation of human right and has innumerable consequence for the victim, including the community at large. It becomes important for health service providers and policy makers to understand this problem, which is not yet clearly understood. This chapter discusses the concept and definitions of sex offences, briefing on the main theories of sexual offence and treatments. Though many theories and treatments are available, more researches are required for the causes, prevention and interventions of sexual offences to have better clarity in the causes and effectiveness of treatments.

Child Sexual Abuse

This chapter outlines briefly the dynamics of the interplay between Child Sexual Abuse and Family. Child abuse is a state of emotional, physical, economic and sexual maltreatment meted out to a person below the age of eighteen and is a globally prevalent phenomenon. Child abuse is a violation of the basic human rights of a child and is an outcome of a set of inter-related familial factors among other ones. The primary focus is on the issues of intrafamilial and extrafamilial child sexual abuse, familial risk factors for abuse and broadly some theories that contribute to the understanding of intrafamilial child sexual abuse. The chapter also explores reactions of the family to the sexually abused child, evaluation of the interventions suitable for the same and the status of psychotherapy with respect to the sexually abused child and their family.

Elder Abuse and Consent Capacity

This chapter explores the findings of theoretical and empirical studies for the complicated construct of capacity to consent to sexual relations in elders. This is alongside an attempt to clarify through small-scale research, the knowledge and attitudes towards consent capacity as reported by elders themselves. Results indicate that Greek respondents are not fully informed about consent capacity and approach this topic as a taboo. Moreover, they believe that the Greek society and state do not provide adequate prevention programs. Future directions on how to make elders and their family members aware of consent capacity problems are discussed.

Sexual Abuse Among Adolescents

This chapter addresses about the prevalence of sexual abuse of adolescents. The consequences, effects and treatment are discussed in this chapter. The chapter also focuses on the laws and amendment acts enforced for the protection of child and adolescents. The major objectives of this chapter are to bring into focus the consequences of sexually abused child and adolescents and how to help them by making them aware of the available treatments and laws enforced for their protection.

Exploring the Link Between Cruelty to Animals and Violence Against People

Violence is a form of behavior of an individual, manifested in the use of physical force, psychological and verbal torture, and sexual abuse. Types of violence in which physical, mental, financial or any other aspect is significantly disproportionate in favor of the perpetrator, there are two especially sensitive types of violence: domestic violence and violence against animals. In this chapter, the authors wish to create convenient theoretical/bibliographical foundation for further studies, and to analyze actual data about these criminal acts. In order to achieve this, besides analysis and presentation of relevant past research studies in this field, attempts were also made to analyze official evidence provided by the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia, as well as the official evidence obtained from the courts at several cities regarding charges brought in these cases.

Etiological Factors and Theories of Sexual Abuse

This chapter describes how sexual abuse could be simply put as an unwanted sexual activity, with the perpetrators using force and/or making threats or taking advantage inability of victims to give consent. Sexual abuse is an extremely common and very serious problem affecting millions of people each year all over the world, but unfortunately in most countries there has been very little research conducted on the problem. Rationally speaking, to prevent or stop social evils like sexual abuse, the scientific method would be arguably one of the most powerful methodology in critical thinking and towards this, understanding causes of sexual abuse is extremely important. In this backdrop, this chapter addresses various psycho social factors, environmental factors and theories of sexual abuse to understand and appreciate the causes of sexual abuse. This concludes that with this aid in developing appropriate legal and policy reforms and interventions that would work on strategy to prevent sexual abuses in the society.

Sexual Abuse Among Individuals With Disabilities

The chapter addresses the concept of sexual abuse among individual with disabilities across lifespan, barriers to reporting of sexual abuse, its impact on the psychological and physical health, characteristics of perpetuators of sexual abuse, importance of family in prevention and protection of individuals with disability.

Being a Child Is a “Serious Game”

The aim of this chapter is to analyze the main and most recent research trends for the prevention of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), by summarizing and discussing related theoretical and methodological issues, debated among scholars. Starting from European and International recommendations, the authors will focus on the most innovative approaches and prevention programs, by particularly exploring the necessity to reinforce children's ability to self-protect, the need for involving trusted adults in prevention programs, and the possibility to adopt serious games as innovative and child-appropriated tools to this end.

Causes of Sexual Abuse

This chapter outlines the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of sexual violence as: ‘Any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic or otherwise directed against a person's sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work'. Although there are many factors which contribute to our understanding of the causes of sexual abuse, this chapter focuses on the various psycho-social factors that would lead to sexual abuse and the various psychological theories such as cognitive, behavioural, personality and social learning theories that help us explain the causes of sexual abuse.

Unveiling the Concepts of Sexual Abuse Among Boys

The chapter focuses on the concepts of sexual abuse among boys, the vulnerability, consequences and aftereffect in their life, it also attempted to put light on the prevention and measures that can be adopted.