1 24 CHAPTER 1 (Hanson et al., 2018). To effectively address sexual offending, prevention can be employed at three levels referred to as primary, secondary, and tertiary (DeGue et al., 2014; Knack et al., 2019; Laws, 2000; Orchowski & Berkowitz, 2022; Orchowsky et al., 2020; Russell et al., 2020). Primary prevention is implemented before the occurrence of initial sexual offending and generally involves wide-scale initiatives aimed at the general public (e.g., general crime deterrence, public education, sex education in schools, awareness of and changes in sexual offense supporting cultural aspects) (e.g., Armstrong et al., 2018; Bourke, 2022; Brownmiller, 1975; Nussbaum, 2021). Secondary prevention focuses on those at-risk of engaging in sexual offending through more targeted interventions (e.g., anonymous helplines for people sexually attracted to prepubescent children), which address issues known to increase the risk of sexual offending (e.g., Beier, 2021). Tertiary prevention aims to prevent sexual reoffending for those who have engaged in a sexual offense (e.g., treatment programs or probation supervision) (e.g., McCartan, et al., 2022; Richards, 2022). Although the effectiveness of treatment of men with a history of sexual offenses, in the prevention of sexual reoffending can be considered modest at best. In particular cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has been found to reduce recidivism in people with a history of sexual offenses (Andrews & Bonta, 2010; Bonta & Andrews, 2017; Hanson et al., 2009; Holper et al., 2023; Schmucker & Lösel, 2015/2017). In addition, application of the risk-need-responsivity model (RNR; Andrews & Bonta, 2010; Bonta & Andrews, 2017) is associated with greater reductions in recidivism in offender treatment. This has been found in a wide range of correctional interventions (Andrews & Bonta, 2010; Bonta & Andrews, 2017; French & Gendreau, 2006; Landenberger & Lipsey, 2005; Lowenkamp et al., 2006; Marlowe et al., 2006; Wilson, Bouffard, et al., 2005), including those for people with a history of sexual offenses (Hanson et al., 2009; Holper et al., 2023; Olver, Nicholaichuk & Wong, 2014; Schmucker & Lösel, 2015/2017; Smid et al., 2014). The RNR model includes three general principles, also known as the “What Works principles”, for the optimization of forensic treatment. The Risk Principle dictates that the involvedness of treatment services must be proportional to the risk of reoffending; that is, individuals who have entered the criminal justice system with high-risk of reoffending should receive the most intensive treatments. Second, the Need Principle emphasizes that treatments should focus on psychological and behavioral characteristics related to the risk of (sexual) reoffending. Finally, the Responsivity Principle dictates the tailoring of treatment programs to the individual learning styles, capabilities, and the individual’s limitations. This dissertation aims to further our understanding of the processes by which riskrelevant psychological and behavioral characteristics in adult men with a history of sexual offenses contribute to the risk of sexual reoffending - in this dissertation defined as the probability of future sexual offending by men convicted of a sexual offense. Increased
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