The Four Preconditions Model

Abstract

The Four Preconditions Model asserted that four preconditions needed to be met in order for child sexual abuse to occur: (1) an offender with a predisposition to sexually abuse a child; (2) the ability overcome any internal inhibitions against acting on that predisposition; (3) the ability to overcome external barriers, such as lack of access to the child or supervision of the child by others; and (4) the ability to overcome any resistance or reluctance on the part of the child. The offender predisposition was itself conceptualized as comprising three components, which were also to some extent preconditions: someemotional congruenceto the act of sexual abuse with this particular child, the capacity forsexual arousalto this child and this activity, and someblockageof his ability to get his emotional and sexual needs met in another way that would not involve a criminal activity. This chapter tries to make an assessment of the current status of the model based on research evidence and clinical practice.

Child Sexual Offenders Typologies: An Exploratory Profile Model using Multiple Correspondence and Cluster Analysis of Portuguese Convicted Offenders Sample

“…However, in sexual violence against adults, alcohol consumption has a disinhibiting effect and deficits in self-control and impulsivity seem to be more solidly present [e.g., not using condoms]. In another perspective, some authors referring to child sex abuse tend to be mostly described as progressive (Lanning, 2010), reinforcing their confidence (Marshall & Barbaree, 1990), causing resistance to drop (Finkelhor, Cuevas & Drawbridge, Finkelhor et al, 2016)). So, we could explain 51.8% cases of ejaculation inside the victim or at least once [ejaculation inside the victim = 35.7%; ejaculation inside and outside the victim = 16.1%].…”

“…Regarding the absence of contact, this relates to voyeurism exhibitionism and pornography exposure behaviors, for example. The child may not be a direct actor in action (Finkelhor, 1994;Finkelhor, Cuevas & Drawbridge, Finkelhor et al, 2016). On the other hand, contactless sexual abuse is often associated with the pre-act process, where the perpetrator fantasizes about contact with children, starting to get sexually aroused by the idea.…”

A systematic review of the United Kingdom's contact child sexual exploitation perpetrator literature: Pointing a way forward for future research and practice

“… Future research directions to benefit from exploring similar research topics associated with other methods of sexual offending, such as familial abuse or rape, to determine if research parallels could be made with the CSE perpetrator. Other sexual offender studies have explored: normalisation; denial; blaming; preconditions; circumstances; opportunity; attitude towards or restrictions in discussing sex; social norms, masculinity; models of offending; victim‐perpetrator dynamics; sexual violence prevention and identifying risk and protective factors, which could ultimately transfer to inform CSE prevention and response (Banyard et al., 2010; Cockbain, 2018; El Feki et al., 2017; Finkelhor et al., 2017; Fulu et al., 2013; McAlinden, 2014; McGrath et al., 2007; Radford et al., 2017; Smallbone & Rayment‐McHugh, 2013). Further explore correlations between harmful sexual behaviours, deviance, or adverse childhood experiences as pathways to contact CSE perpetration. Future research to cease entering the racially divisive debates until more precise data is available, and to instead, address gaps in CSE perpetrator literature, using empirically robust methods to build on the established knowledgebase detailed in this review. …”

“…Future research directions to benefit from exploring similar research topics associated with other methods of sexual offending, such as familial abuse or rape, to determine if research parallels could be made with the CSE perpetrator. Other sexual offender studies have explored: normalisation; denial; blaming; preconditions; circumstances; opportunity; attitude towards or restrictions in discussing sex; social norms, masculinity; models of offending; victim‐perpetrator dynamics; sexual violence prevention and identifying risk and protective factors, which could ultimately transfer to inform CSE prevention and response (Banyard et al., 2010; Cockbain, 2018; El Feki et al., 2017; Finkelhor et al., 2017; Fulu et al., 2013; McAlinden, 2014; McGrath et al., 2007; Radford et al., 2017; Smallbone & Rayment‐McHugh, 2013).…”

Does the adapted sex offender treatment programme reduce cognitive distortions? A meta-analysis

“…An array of theories has attempted to explain why people with ID commit sexual offences. However, only Finkelhor's (1984) precondition model of child sex abuse will be expounded in this section, as it indicates a specific factor/variable as being central to the process of sex offending that has been tested empirically. Finkelhor (1984) theorised that there are four preconditions to child sex abuse that must be satisfied in order for the abuse to occur: motivation, overcoming internal inhibitors, overcoming external inhibitors, and overcoming the resistance of the child.…”