Understanding the Motivations and Emotional States of Child Sexual Offenders: A Qualitative Approach

• In Event: Child sexual abuse

Abstract

The etiology of child sexual offending is complex and multifaceted, with different offender subtypes exhibiting distinct motivational and behavioral patterns. This qualitative study explores the experiences of individuals convicted of consuming Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM), engaging in child grooming, and committing contact offenses. The sample consists of 35 participants, including CSEM-only offenders, grooming-only offenders, and mixed offenders, with the latter category encompassing individuals who engaged in both CSEM and contact offenses, engaged in grooming and contact offenses, or committed contact offenses and recorded the abuse.
Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews, we aim to investigate the motivations behind offending behavior, the factors contributing to behavioral escalation, the offenders’ emotional states at the time of the offense, and their current emotional responses when reflecting on their actions. By analyzing their narratives, we seek to uncover potential cognitive distortions, justifications, and emotional coping mechanisms that may have influenced offense trajectories.
A recurring theme among participants is their own experience of childhood sexual abuse, with some offenders reporting that viewing CSEM triggered a psychological return to their own past abuse, providing a temporary sense of relief or comfort. This suggests a possible link between self-referential processing of CSEM and maladaptive coping mechanisms related to unresolved trauma.
Preliminary findings suggest that motivational pathways vary across offender subtypes, with some offenders describing curiosity and impulsivity, while others report emotional gratification, sexual interests, or gradual desensitization leading to escalation. Emotional states at the time of the offense range from excitement and arousal to dissociation and emotional detachment, while retrospective reflections reveal feelings of guilt, shame, or continued justification of their actions.
Understanding these subjective experiences is crucial for improving risk assessment, designing tailored intervention programs, and identifying potential indicators of escalation from non-contact to contact offenses.

Authors

• Cláudia Patrícia Gouveia, Psychology Research Center, University of Minho

• Michael C. Seto, Royal Ottawa Health Care Group

• Olga Cunha, University of Minho

• Marta Sousa, University of Minho

• Mariana Cachez, Universidade do Minho

• Beatriz Costa, Escola de Psicologia da Universidade do Minho

• Sõnia Maria Martins Caridade, Escola de Psicologia da Universidade do Minho