Understand the Cyclic Nature of Harmful Online Behaviour
In the ever-evolving landscape of the digital age, the internet has undeniably revolutionised the way we connect, share information, and interact with the world. However, alongside the countless opportunities for positive engagement, the online realm has also given rise to a darker facet of human behaviour – online sexual offending. As we navigate this virtual terrain, it becomes increasingly crucial to understand and address the cyclic nature of such offenses which result in perpetuating patterns of misconduct.
The ‘developing cycle of sexual abuse’ model, first proposed by S. Wolf in 1984 and subsequently adapted by Joe Sullivan, a renowned forensic psychologist, in 1994, suggests that online sexual offending may begin with ‘Cognitive Distortion’, or ‘Mixed-up Thinking’. This creates fertile ground for harmful sexual fantasy. These fantasies are made stronger, and the risks posed by them are amplified if they are acted upon though masturbation and reaching orgasm. The immediate impact of this is guilt and fear, which in turn, fuels further cognitive distortion, perpetuating this cycle on and on. Eventually, the risk of further online harm through grooming or abuse, is heightened.
Joe Sullivan also developed a comprehensive model known as the ‘Spiral of Sexual Abuse’ to better understand the dynamics and progression of sexually abusive behaviour. This model can be applied to both online and offline scenarios and seeks to shed light on the complex interplay of factors that contribute to the perpetuation of sexual abuse, offering a framework for professionals to comprehend and address such challenging issues.
The Spiral of Sexual Abuse is a conceptual framework that outlines the stages and dynamics involved in the commission of online and offline sexual offenses. Sullivan proposed a cyclical process that incorporates several key elements, including escalation, plateau, de-escalation, and preoccupation. The model suggests that individuals engaged in sexual offending behaviour often go through a repetitive cycle, marked by a gradual intensification of deviant thoughts and behaviours.
Let’s take a more detailed look at these cycles and how they develop.
Lifestyle Problems
These are precursors/factors in the individual’s life which influence their behaviour. Includes emotional, cognitive,
behavioural and environmental factors. Example: Relationship issues, sexuality and sexual development, use of
pornography, family, social and economic situation, substance misuse.
Physical or Emotional Triggers
These are the thoughts, feelings and attitudes linked to lifestyles problems. Examples: Feeling discontented, frustrated, bored, resentful, stressed and anxious. Can also include physical triggers such as impotence, sexual
dysfunction and depression.
Escape Zones
These can be ‘zones’ which are in the individual’s head e.g. fantasy, or can also be a physical place/environment where an individual goes to escape reality/situations which might trigger emotional states. Example: Shutting down and emotionally and physically withdrawing, fantasising, going online to avoid other types of offending.
Going Online
Individuals can go online with or without the intention of offending. Going online can provide further
triggers/opportunities to engage in risk behaviour like viewing legal, adult pornography. Examples: Social networking
sites, emails, using chatrooms, online dating.
Inappropriate Online Activity
This can include viewing/downloading illegal pornography, distributing, sharing, swapping, storing, chatting to others and engaging in online grooming behaviours. This activity may or may not involve masturbation. Individuals often employ cognitive distortions regarding the appropriateness of their behaviour.
End of Inappropriate Activity
This is usually associated with a number of conflicting thoughts, feelings and behaviours linked to this. Examples include guilt, fear, deleting browsing history and illegal images, covering tracks, promising self that this will not happen again, but also feeling satisfaction as a consequence of the activity meeting specific needs for the individual. The needs are likely to include sexual needs but will also include other non-sexual needs.
Emotional Response
These can be a positive or negative response and relates to the individual’s thoughts and feelings about their inappropriate online behaviour. Examples include guilt, disgust, self-loathing, fear, anger, frustration, conflicted, confused, detachment and disassociation.
Critical Threshold
This is the point at which the individual potentially stops or repeats the problematic behaviour. Based on a number of factors including the individual’s emotional response, cognitive distortions and triggers. It is important to know what the critical threshold features are for individuals when identifying treatment targets.
Strategies for Restoring Self-Esteem
This involves the individual making self feel better after the inappropriate online activity has ceased. This can include acknowledging the inappropriateness of the behaviour and making resolution to stop it. Or this can involve the individual making excuses, justifying or minimising the seriousness of the behaviour. Example: ‘Never again’, ‘It’s not that bad’, ‘I can’t stop it’, ‘This is the only way I can meet my sexual needs’.
Habit – Functional Offending
The behaviour is frequently repeated and regularly engaged in. It becomes a habit and individuals may describe feeling ‘addicted’. The individual can move through the cycle quickly or slowly.
Relapse
This is when the individual returns to harmful online activity and re-offends.
Sub-Cycles
Individuals can engage in more than one cycle at a time. For example, a sub-cycle within the wider cycle.
Exercise
Take time to review the above models in detail and consider the below questions for yourself.
1. Am I already engaging in harmful behaviour? If not, am I at risk?
2. To what extent to these cycles reflect my own online behaviours, thoughts, feelings and repeat patters?
3. What are my physical and emotional triggers?
4. What is my critical threshold?