Victim empathy in youth sex offenders

Abstract

A comprehensive literature review and consultations with experts in the field of youth sex offending indicated that there is a dearth of knowledge pertaining to victim empathy of youth sex offenders, especially within the South African context. The goal of this study was to measure, describe and compare the prevalence of victim empathy in youth sex offenders. To achieve the goal of the study, the mixed methods approach was followed. Quantitative data was collected by means of a questionnaire and qualitative data was obtained by means of semi-structured interviews. The questionnaires were completed by 96 sentenced youth sex offenders from three Youth Correctional Centres (YCCs). Subsequently interviews were conducted with each of the research participants. The questionnaire measured the prevalence of empathy for a general sexual abuse victim as well as own victim empathy in youth sex offenders. Comparisons were made between the two types of empathy and in the quantitative section of this study it was found that the research participants displayed significantly less empathy for their own victims when compared to their levels of empathy for a general sexual abuse victim. During the qualitative interviews, in-depth information was obtained regarding the youth sex offenders thoughts prior to, during and after the offence was committed. Their current feelings for the victims were also explored. The divergent responses obtained, is an indication of the heterogeneous nature of youth sex offending. Most research participants indicated that they did not think about the impact of the offence on the victim prior to, or during the committing of the offence, due to being under the influence of substances, viewing the victim as a willing participant, being impulsive, having feelings of self-entitlement or impunity, or due to the influence of peers. Most of the research participants acknowledged that directly after the victimisation occurred, they were afraid of the consequences of their actions and feared punishment, but did not necessarily consider the feelings of the victim. When explaining their current feelings, various research participants indicated that they were remorseful and would like to ask their victims for forgiveness. However, some still failed to accept responsibility and blamed circumstances such as being under the influence of substances or being influenced by peers. Lastly, the research participants were asked about their attendance of correctional programmes in the YCCs and whether these programmes contained an empathy component. Most of the participants indicated that the Sex Offender Programmes which they attended did not have an empathy component and did not focus on the influence that rape had on the victim. Only a small number indicated that the programmes which they attended focussed on the victim. However, it was clear from their explanations that the main focus was on general sexual abuse victim empathy and not on own victim empathy. Considering the results of this study, as well as literature pertaining to the subject, it is evident that programmes should focus on own victim empathy, as that is where the most prominent deficits are displayed.