Do theory of mind, affective resonance with others' pain, and response inhibition distinguish online-only from contact child sexual offenders?

该项目将采用一种以解决方案为重点的方法来确定可以针对的心理过程，以确保潜在的高风险群体，如浏览在线儿童性剥削材料但未犯下接触性犯罪的男性，不会虐待和伤害儿童。过去四年中，针对16岁以下儿童的性犯罪记录呈急剧上升趋势，最近在2017年，涉及13岁以下儿童的性活动显著增加。然而，我们知道，一些浏览网上儿童性剥削材料的男性永远不会发展到接触犯罪：因此，确定保护因素是一个关键的方法，可能有助于确定潜在的治疗目标，减少儿童性虐待。要理解其中的原因，我们需要知道接触性犯罪者是否在心理能力理论（即理解他人思想、感受、意图和信仰的能力）方面与“在线”犯罪者、犯罪者和非犯罪者控制组有区别；2)对他人痛苦的情感共鸣，即对他人痛苦感同身受的能力；3)抑制阳性反应的能力。拟议工作的目标是使用社会情感功能和反应抑制测试以及生理措施，创建一个能够区分在线性犯罪者和接触性犯罪者的心理概况，并帮助确定防止接触性侵犯的心理过程。这项研究的结果将有助于设计心理知情的治疗方案，最终目的是减少接触性侵犯，保护儿童免受伤害。这些结果将传达给科学家、政策制定者、治疗提供者和相关的慈善组织，为未来的预防和干预工作提供信息，并保证儿童的安全。

This project will use a solution-focussed approach to identify the psychological processes that can be targeted to ensure that potential high risk groups, such as men who view online child sexual exploitation material, but who have not committed contact sexual offences, do not abuse and harm children. The last four years have seen a steep upward trend in the number of recorded sexual offences against children under 16, and as recently as 2017 there has been a marked increase in sexual activity involving a child under 13. However, we know that some men who view online child sexual exploitation material will never progress to committing contact offences: therefore, the identification of protective factors is a key approach that may help to identify potential treatment targets and reduce child sexual abuse. To understand why, we need to know if contact sexual offenders are distinguishable from 'online-only' offenders and offender and non-offender controls in 1) theory of mind abilities, that is, the ability to understand others' thoughts, feelings, intentions and beliefs; 2) affective resonance with others' pain, that is, the ability to vicariously experience the pain of another; and 3) the ability to inhibit a prepotent response. The objectives of the proposed work are to use tests of social-affective functioning and response inhibition, and physiological measures, to create a psychological profile that can distinguish between online-only and contact sexual offenders and help to identify the psychological processes that protect against contact sexual offending. The results of this research will aid the design of psychologically informed treatment programs with the ultimate aim of reducing contact sexual offending and protecting children from harm. These results will be communicated to scientists, policy makers, treatment providers, and relevant charitable organisations to inform future prevention and intervention efforts and keep children safe.