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A treatment component designed to enhance empathy in sex offenders with an intellectual disability
- Authors:
- MICHIE Amanda M., LINDSAY William R.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Forensic Practice, 14(1), 2012, pp.40-48.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The authors describe the introduction of a component designed to enhance empathy into an established cognitive behavioural treatment program for sexual offenders with an intellectual disability. The treatment group (n=10, mean age 36.4 years, average IQ 65.8) received an empathy component and was compared with a control group. The study employed a cognitive behaviour approach in a group setting. The empathy enhancing treatment consisted of six sessions over eight weeks aiming to expose participants to the cognitive, emotional and behavioural experiences of victims. Therapeutic efficacy was assessed pre- and post-treatment and at 3, 6 and 9-month follow-up using the interpersonal reactivity index which assesses fantasy, perspective taking, empathic concern, and personal distress experienced due to others' misfortune. There were no significant differences between treatment and control groups at baseline. For the treatment group, significant differences were identified between pre, post and three-month follow-up assessments indicating an increased empathy at post-treatment assessment. The treatment group had significantly improved over the controls. The authors conclude that empathy responses can be included in a programme for sex offenders with ID however they point to a number of limitations of the study. Increased empathetic responses may improve self-regulation.