Using Arousal Suppression Exercises to Decrease Inappropriate Sexual Arousal in Detained Adolescent Males: Three Clinical Demonstrations

• Published in: Behavior analysis in practice 2020-06, Vol.13 (2), p.348-359
• Main Authors: Brogan, Kristen M., Rapp, John T., Niedfeld, Amanda M., Thompson, Kelli R., Burkhart, Barry R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Behavioral Science and Psychology; Minors; Pedophilia; Psychology; Self report; Sex crimes; Sexual behavior; Special Section: Diversity and Inclusion; Teenagers
• ISSN: 1998-1929; 2196-8934
• DOI: 10.1007/s40617-020-00408-z

Reyes, Vollmer, and Hall ( 2011 ) found that 2 arousal suppression strategies, 1 of which involved counting backward from 100 to 0, decreased sexual arousal for 2 male sex offenders with intellectual disabilities. In the current clinical study, we taught 3 adolescent males who had been adjudicated for illegal sexual behavior to self-report arousal when they were presented with sexually arousing visual stimuli. Based on the procedures in the Reyes et al. ( 2011 ) study, we taught participants to count backward from 100 to 0 when they verbally reported a criterion level of sexual arousal in the presence of visual media. Subsequently, we gradually faded therapists’ instructions for 2 participants until they independently used the arousal suppression exercise. Results showed that each participant’s self-reported sexual arousal decreased upon implementation of treatment relative to baseline. Decreased sexual arousal continued even under conditions of faded therapist instructions for 2 participants. The relative merits of using self-report measures are discussed.