The influence of implicit theories and offender characteristics on judgements of sexual offenders: a moderated mediation analysis

The psychological factors underpinning responses to sexual offenders are beginning to receive increased empirical scrutiny. One such factor is offender representativeness, which refers to the extent to which a given offender example matches a stereotype of those who are typically labelled as 'sexual offenders'. Using a sample of 252 community members, we examined the role of implicit theories about sexual offenders (i.e., whether sexual offending is seen as fixed or malleable) in mediating the relationship between affective responses to sexual offenders and policy outcome judgements. We found support for this mediating effect, although this was eliminated when participants were presented with a 'non-representative' offender vignette. We argue that the relationship between affective responses and policy judgements is contingent on the activation of a sexual offender stereotype, and that this link can be disrupted via the increased presentation of non-stereotypical case examples. Implications for public debate and professional practice are discussed

Distorted cognition related to male sexual offending: the multi-mechanism theory of cognitive distortions (MMT-CD)

Cognitive distortions are considered an important factor to the etiology and maintenance of sexual offending behavior in males. A predominant view within the literature is that cognitive distortions are cognitive products that arise from deeper cognitive structures, although it has also been proposed that goals and situational factors can play a role. In this article, we provide an updated theoretical account of cognitive distortions in males – the Multi-Mechanism Theory of Cognitive Distortions (MMT-CD). Adopting a dual-process perspective, and incorporating the concept of motivated cognition and the effects of visceral factors, we propose that cognitive distortions arise from three mechanisms, which can be identified in terms of their temporal occurrence to an offence. Mechanism I accounts for cognitive distortions that arise long before an offense is committed but serve to influence an individual’s life-course and goals in a way that brings them closer eventually sexually offending. Mechanism II accounts for distortions that arise in the lead up to or immediately before a sexual offence, thus, providing a justification for committing an offense. Mechanism III accounts for distortions that are formed post-offense as a result of the adversarial context of the individual’s social environment. We describe: (1) the nature of the each mechanism; (2) the way they underpin particular distortions; (3) the role they play in the etiology of sex offending; (4) and how they may play out in research and practice

The influence of fantasy proneness, dissociation, and vividness of mental imagery on male's aggressive sexual fantasies

Many researchers have studied the prevalence and content of men's aggressive sexual fantasies, including their link with rape-supportive cognition. However, little to no research has examined the link between imaginal ability and the use of such fantasies. Based on existing research and theory, we propose that men who hold hostile beliefs towards women will use aggressive sexual fantasies more often if they possess a greater ability to engage in a ‘rich fantasy life’. Operationally, we argue this involves: (1) a proneness to fantasize in general; (2) an ability to vividly envision mental imagery; and (3) frequent experiences of dissociation. To test this, the present study hypothesized that a latent variable termed ‘Rich Fantasy Life’, via ‘Hostile Beliefs about Women’, influences the use of ‘Aggressive Sexual Fantasies’. A sample of 159 community males was recruited. Each participant completed a measure of fantasy proneness, dissociation, and vividness of mental imagery, along with two measures that assess hostile beliefs about women. Assessing how often the participants fantasized about rape-related and sadistic themes provided a measure of aggressive sexual fantasies. Structural equation modeling (along with bootstrapping procedures) indicated that the data had a very good fit with the hypothesized model. The results offer an important contribution to our understanding of aggressive sexual fantasies, which may have implications for clinical assessment and treatment. The limitations of the study are discussed, along with suggestions for future research

NLO BFKL Equation, Running Coupling and Renormalization Scales

I examine the solution of the BFKL equation with NLO corrections relevant for deep inelastic scattering. Particular emphasis is placed on the part played by the running of the coupling. It is shown that the solution factorizes into a part describing the evolution in Q^2, and a constant part describing the input distribution. The latter is infrared dominated, being described by a coupling which grows as x decreases, and thus being contaminated by infrared renormalons. Hence, for this part we agree with previous assertions that predictive power breaks down for small enough x at any Q^2. However, the former is ultraviolet dominated, being described by a coupling which falls like 1/(\ln(Q^2/\Lambda^2) + A(\bar\alpha_s(Q^2)\ln(1/x))^1/2)with decreasing x, and thus is perturbatively calculable at all x. Therefore, although the BFKL equation is unable to predict the input for a structure function for small x, it is able to predict its evolution in Q^2, as we would expect from the factorization theory. The evolution at small x has no true powerlike behaviour due to the fall of the coupling, but does have significant differences from that predicted from a standard NLO in alpha_s treatment. Application of the resummed splitting functions with the appropriate coupling constant to an analysis of data, i.e. a global fit, is very successful.Comment: Tex file, including a modification of Harvmac, 46 pages, 8 figures as .ps files. Correction of typos, updating of references, very minor corrections to text and fig.

The quark part of the non-forward BFKL kernel and the ``bootstrap'' for the gluon Reggeization

We calculate the quark part of the kernel of the generalized non-forward BFKL equation at non-zero momentum transfer $t$ in the next-to-leading logarithmic approximation. Along with the quark contribution to the gluon Regge trajectory, this part includes pieces coming from the quark-antiquark production and from the quark contribution to the radiative corrections in one-gluon production in the Reggeon-Reggeon collisions. The results obtained can be used for an arbitrary representation of the colour group in the $t-$channel. Using the results for the adjoint representation, we demonstrate explicitly the fulfillment of the ``bootstrap'' condition for the gluon Reggeization in the next-to-leading logarithmic approximation in the part concerning the quark contribution.Comment: 26 pages, LaTeX, uses axodraw.sty; revised final comment; to appear on Phys. Rev.

Assessment and treatment of distorted schemas in sexual offenders

The aim of this review is to examine the literature related to the assessment and treatment of sex offenders’ distorted schemas. Where appropriate, the review draws upon current insights from the field of social cognition to aid in the critical evaluation of the findings. First, the review considers the various different methodologies for assessing distorted schemas, discussing their strengths and limitations. Second, the review examines the work related to the treatment of sex offenders’ schemas. Suggestions for future research, and the implications for clinical practice, are highlighted in the article

Heavy quark impact factor in kT-factorization

We present the calculation of the finite part of the heavy quark impact factor at next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy in a form suitable for phenomenological studies such as the calculation of the cross-section for single bottom quark production at the LHC within the kT-factorization scheme

Do we need two Pomerons?

We show that one single Pomeron compatible with the Froissart limit, can account for all the present HERA data.Comment: The title has been modified and some references adde

Diffractive Higgs Production by AdS Pomeron Fusion

The double diffractive Higgs production at central rapidity is formulated in terms of the fusion of two AdS gravitons/Pomerons first introduced by Brower, Polchinski, Strassler and Tan in elastic scattering. Here we propose a simple self-consistent holographic framework capable of providing phenomenologically compelling estimates of diffractive cross sections at the LHC. As in the traditional weak coupling approach, we anticipate that several phenomenological parameters must be tested and calibrated through factorization for a self-consistent description of other diffractive process such as total cross sections, deep inelastic scattering and heavy quark production in the central region.Comment: 53 pages, 8 figure