No abstract

Many authors have suggested adapting treatment programs to the specific needs of sexual abusers. However, little research has been conducted to understand what these patients seek in therapy or what elements play a key role in keeping them in treatment. In this pilot study, fifteen (N=15) pedophile sexual abusers from La Macaza clinic for sexual abusers were interviewed. Plan analysis was used to investigate the most prevalent components involved in staying in or leaving therapy. Results suggest that many components involved in the plans leading to doing and to avoiding treatment were similar. Differences were found in regards to the outcome of confrontations with the therapists, a tendency to isolate and overcomply, guilt related to the abuse, a need for a stable environment, and a need to be accepted. These results are discussed along with possible ways to improve the patients' involvement in treatment.

This exploratory study used qualitative methodology to examine what pedophiles think about treatment, as well as their daily experience of a treatment program. To this end, twenty-three offenders receiving treatment from the La Macaza federal penitentiary clinic were interviewed using non-directive semi-structured interviews. Comparative analysis was used to analyze the resulting material. The following themes are discussed based on the results of this analysis: (a) the participants' past experience of therapy; (b) motivations for choosing the La Macaza clinic for treatment; (c) the structure of the program; (d) the group dynamics; (e) the therapists; and (f) the hardships and difficulties of treatment. Results suggest that the therapists and the program may have a function of containment or holding. Although part of the therapeutic process involves a focus on identifying and reducing cognitive distortions, results also warn therapists against misusing this concept by applying it to legitimately different opinions. Findings are discussed in terms of possible program improvements. The authors conclude that greater attention must be given to process research.

This exploratory study aimed at better understanding why pedophile sex offenders enter and remain in treatment and how they consider it to be helpful. Comparative analysis was applied to non-directive semi-structured interviews with 24 pedophile sex offenders from La Macaza Clinic at the La Macaza federal penitentiary in Quebec. Three major themes were explored: (1) the offenders' impressions about the voluntary basis of the treatment; (2) the nature of the motivation for treatment of the participants; and (3) the different ways in which therapy was or was not helpful. The results are discussed in reference to psychodynamic literature on therapy processes and sexual deviance pathology.

No abstract

Virtual reality (VR), as a method to assess sexual preferences, is explored. Dynamics of the subjective point of view (POV), subjective affective state, and feeling of presence, as measured following the interaction with a virtual naked model, appear as promising ways to probe sexual preferences as expressed in immersion. Theoretical aspects of VR psychology and further steps in developing a sexual preferences assessment method are delineated.

No abstract

The "Jumping Frenchmen of Maine" were described by George Beard in 1878. They had an excessive startle response, sometimes with echolalia, echopraxia, or forced obedience. In 1885, Gilles de la Tourette concluded that "jumping" was similar to the syndrome that now bears his name. Direct observations of jumpers have been scarce. We studied eight jumpers from the Because region of Quebec. In our opinion, this phenomenon is not a neurologic disease, but can be explained in psychological terms as operant conditioned behavior. Our cases were related to specific conditions in lumber camps in the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century.