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The Abstinence Violation Effect in Regressed and Fixated Child Molesters

University of Canterbury and Kia Marama Treatment Unit

Tony Ward, PhD

Victoria University of Wellington

Karyn G. France, PhD

University of Otago Christchurch School of Medicine

Twenty-six incarcerated male child molesters were assessed, using the Differential Emotions Scale and the 4-Attributional Dimension Scale, at three points (High Risk Situation, Lapse, and Relapse), while they listened to an audio-taped recording of a description of their most typical offense chain. Study participants were classified as either fixated or regressed according to age at onset of offending, quality of the relationship with the victim, lifestyle issues, stress, and drug use. There were no differences in the frequency with which fixated or regressed offenders experienced an abstinence violation effect (AVE), although five out of the seven of those experiencing this reaction at the point of lapsing, were regressed offenders, as were twelve out of eighteen at relapse. Fixated offenders reported more positive emotions (interest and joy) and less negative emotions (sadness, anger, disgust, hostility, fear, shame, shyness, and guilt) than regressed offenders. In addition, fixated participants perceived the cause of their offending behavior as being more stable than did regressed offenders. For men experiencing the AVE at relapse, those classified as fixated saw the cause of the relapse as more stable than did regressed cases. Fixated offenders who experienced an AVE at relapse saw its cause as more stable and global than the remaining fixated men, while regressed offenders showing an AVE reported no differences in their perception of cause from the remaining regressed cases. The significance of these results for theory and clinical practice are discussed.

Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, Vol. 5, No. 4, 199-213 (1992)
DOI: 10.1177/107906329200500401


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