Victim to Victimizer

Abstract

Victims of childhood sexual abuse may experience many dysfunctional outcomes. One negative outcome may be an increased risk of the sexually abused becoming sexually abusive to others. This article suggests that experience in the treatment of sexual offenders may have important implications for how we treat victims of child sexual abuse in order to prevent the development of sexual offending. Parallel issues in victimology and offenderology are explored, and suggestions are made for preventive interventions.