Sexual crimes

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

Different teaching methodologies will be used within the curricular unit (CU): oral presentation of the theoretical contents, exercises in small groups, discussion of clinical-forensic case studies, discussion of empirical articles, and feedback by the lecturer.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the curricular unit, students are expected to be able to: a) define and distinguish the different subtypes of sexual violence; b) characterize the different typologies of sex offenders; c) understand the dynamic risk factors for sexual violence; d) conceptualize sexual crimes according to behavioral and cognitive-behavioral models; e) develop assessment and intervention skills with sex offenders; f) understand the influence of rape myths on the attrition rates, and the implications for prevention/intervention in sexual crimes.  

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Sexual violence: definition, subtypes (sexual coercion, sexual abuse, rape) and prevalence

2. Types of sex offenders

3. Dynamic risk factors for sexual violence

4. Conceptualizing sexual violence: Behavioral and cognitive-behavioral models

5. Psychological assessment of sex offenders:

5.1. Assessement of deviant sexual behaviors and fantasies

5.2 Assessment of the risk/danger level

5.3 Assessment of psychological functioning (e.g. cognitive skills, personality)

6. Pychological intervention with sex offenders:

6.1 Behavioral intervention (e.g., reconditioning of sexual arousal)

6.2 Cognitive-behavioral intervention

6.3 Interventions based on the Good Lives Model

7. Attrition rates in sex crimes: The influence of rape myths

7.1 Implications for prevention/intervention in sex crimes

8. Intervention in sex crimes: Achievements, challenges, limitations and future directions

Head Lecturer(s)

Nélio Jesus de Freitas Brasão

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Final written exam about theoretical and pratical contents. For approval, the student must obtain the minimal classification of 9.5: 100.0%

Bibliography

Beech, A. R. & Craig, L. A. (2009). Assessment and treatment of sex offenders: A handbook. Oxford: Wiley-Blacwell.

Brown, J. M. & Walklate, S. L. (2011). Handbook on sexual violence. New York: Routledge.

Gannon, T. & Cortoni, F. (2010). Female sexual offenders. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

Laws, D. R. & O'Donohue, W. T. (2008). Sexual deviance: Theory, assessment, and treatment. New York: The Guilford Press.

O'Donohue, W. T. & Schewe, P. A. (2019). Handbook of sexual assault and sexual assault prevention. Switzerland: Springer.

Ward, T., Devon, L. L., & Beech, A. R. (2006). Theories of sexual offending. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

Wooten, S., C. & Mitchell, R. W. (2017). Preventing sexual violence on campus: Challenging traditional approaches through program innovation. New York: Taylor & Francis.