The male adolescent's perception of family dynamics and the impact on the development of sex offense behavior: A qualitative study
by Murray, Michelle Kathleen, Ph.D., SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, 2008, 353 pages; 3323074

Abstract:

Male adolescent sex offenders present a serious risk to society. The current and past research has primarily focused on the statistics of juvenile offenders and their individual characteristics. The family research that has been completed has lacked consistent and reliable conclusions. Thus far, only one other study has been conducted regarding the juvenile sex offenders’ perception of their family experiences. The purpose of this dissertation was to understand the experience and meanings that male juvenile sex offenders ascribe to their family experiences, as well as, the adolescents’ perspective about how his sexual acts fit within the context of his family dynamics. A phenomenological qualitative methodology was used. The participants were 15 male adolescents between the ages of 12-18, residing in residential treatment for sexual issues. Each youth was interviewed using a semi-structured interview format. Data analysis followed Moustakas (1990; 1994) and Van Manen’s (1990) procedures for analyzing heuristic and transcendental research. Many of the participants in the current study tended to live in a family environment of instability, adult criminal behavior, absent fathers, unavailable mothers, inadequate parenting, physical violence, sexual abuse, and exposure to pornography. Many of these youths lacked proper education about sex, were highly manipulative and secretive, chose a sibling(s) as their primary victim, their offense behavior was only one part of their delinquent activities, and the primary reason for their offense behavior was to satisfy a sexual urge. The results of this study indicated that juvenile sex offenders likely live within a family context of risk factors that contribute to the development and continuance of sexual perpetration.

 
Advisor
SchoolSYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
SourceDAI/B 69-07, p. , Nov 2008
Source TypeDissertation
SubjectsClinical psychology; Criminology; Individual & family studies
Publication Number3323074
Adobe PDF Access the complete dissertation:
 

» Find an electronic copy at your library.
  Use the link below to access a full citation record of this graduate work:
  http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl%3furl_ver=Z39.88-2004%26res_dat=xri:pqdiss%26rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation%26rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3323074
  If your library subscribes to the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT) database, you may be entitled to a free electronic version of this graduate work. If not, you will have the option to purchase one, and access a 24 page preview for free (if available).

About ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
With over 2.3 million records, the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT) database is the most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses in the world. It is the database of record for graduate research.

The database includes citations of graduate works ranging from the first U.S. dissertation, accepted in 1861, to those accepted as recently as last semester. Of the 2.3 million graduate works included in the database, ProQuest offers more than 1.9 million in full text formats. Of those, over 860,000 are available in PDF format. More than 60,000 dissertations and theses are added to the database each year.

If you have questions, please feel free to visit the ProQuest Web site - http://www.proquest.com - or call ProQuest Hotline Customer Support at 1-800-521-3042.