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Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, Vol. 9, No. 1, 34-55 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1524838007311104
© 2008 SAGE Publications

Social Perception Deficits, Cognitive Distortions, and Empathy Deficits in Sex Offenders

A Brief Review

Emily Blake

University of Kent

Theresa Gannon

University of Kent

This literature review examines the differences between sex offenders and nonoffenders with regard to social perception skills, cognitive distortions, and empathy skills in order to investigate sex offenders' cognition. The literature on cognitive distortions is discussed, with reference to the confusion surrounding its definition, and the debate between cognitive distortions as offense-supportive beliefs or justifications is examined. In terms of social perception, particular reference is made to sex offenders' misinterpretations of women's social cues and the source of this deficit. The authors discuss possibilities for this deficit, including offense-supportive beliefs that are driven by underlying implicit theories or schemata held by offenders. The concept of empathy and its relation to both social perception skills and cognitive distortions is discussed, and the integration of these factors is represented in a new model.

Key Words: social perception • empathy • cognitive distortions • sex offenders


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