Narrative reflexivity as a repair device for discounting 'cognitive distortions' in sex offender treatment

Abstract

The treatment of imprisoned sex offenders has been an established feature of the English prison system for several years. A core concept in such treatment has been 'cognitive distortion'. In this article, an argument was made for treating this concept as a social resource for those participating in treatment rather than as a pathological mental entity afflicting those being treated. An analysis of narratives produced by offenders of their crimes identified a particular device, which is labelled narrative reflexivity. This device shifted the focus of the narrative from the sequence of past events to the current context of the telling itself. The shape and features of this device were identified. Analysis also demonstrated that this device was utilized by offenders to monitor and discount cognitive distortions that could be attributed to them. This article concluded by briefly discussing the implications of this analysis for the practice of sex offender treatment.