Empathy and Its Influence on Sexual Misconduct

A deficit in empathy is generally regarded as a factor that contributes to the occurrence of sexual offenses and sexual boundary violations. As a result, many experts recommend empathy training as a part of any program that attempts to reduce recidivism among offenders. Considerable controversy exists, however, with regard to the definition of empathy, the actual influence of empathy on sociopathic behavior, and whether empathy can indeed be taught. This article provides a review of the literature concerning some of these controversial issues, concluding with a proposed model for empathy training for professionals who engage in sexual misconduct based on the theoretical and empirical data available. The model incorporates the following four key aspects of empathy training: developing cognitive awareness, enhancing emotional responsiveness, self-awareness, and modeling of empathic responses.