Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) BA State Certification Practice Exam

What is a common cognitive distortion found in child sexual offenders?

1. Self-reference

2. Hyperawareness

3. Manipulative reasoning

4. Victim blaming

The correct answer is: Victim blaming

Victim blaming is a common cognitive distortion found in child sexual offenders as it allows them to displace responsibility for their actions onto the victims. By attributing blame to the victim, offenders can justify their behavior and mitigate feelings of guilt or shame. This distortion can manifest in various ways, such as suggesting that the victim's actions, attire, or behavior somehow provoked the offense. This mindset not only dehumanizes the victim but also reinforces a harmful narrative that diminishes the perpetrator's accountability. On a broader level, this distortion contributes to societal views that may minimize the seriousness of such offenses and perpetuate stigma against victims. Understanding victim blaming helps in addressing these cognitive distortions in treatment and prevention efforts, emphasizing the need for accountability and a focus on the offender's behavior rather than the victim's circumstances. The other choices, although they may reflect various cognitive distortions in different contexts, do not specifically encompass the pervasive and damaging mindset that victim blaming represents in the context of child sexual offenses.