Theoretical Model of social development in explaining the occurrence of adolescent sexual offense

Abstract

The main research question of this paper is the connection of childhood sexual victimization and adolescence sexual delinquency, using the theoretical model of Social development. In the paper, analysis and synthesis of theoretical and empirical data, are used as general scientific methods. Certain empirical data shows that adolescent sexual offenders more often experience sexual victimization in childhood, compared to the group of non-offenders. This finding can be explained by learning and repeating experienced behavioral patterns. Young people who were brought up in a sexually violent environment try to control the world around them through sexual aggression, because of their exposure to sexual violence in their childhood. Traumatization of sexual victimization influences a person's belief in antisocial possibilities and values. Community response to this type of wrongdoings committed by minors should be based on networking between relevant services for the protection of children from sexual violence, from social services, police, educational to health services, and through the provision of safety and psycho-social support to a child victim of sexual violence.

Keywords

• adolescence
• sexual oending
• sexual violence against children
• model of social development
• prevention