“Voyeurism Was My Comfort Blanket”
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“Voyeurism was my comfort blanket”. An investigation into the experiences and needs of adult males with a conviction for voyeurism. CARA WOOD A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of Nottingham Trent University for the Professional Doctorate in Forensic Psychology January 2019 Copyright and reuse: "This work is the intellectual property of the author. You may copy up to 5% of this work for private study, or personal, non-commercial research. Any re-use of the information contained within this document should be fully referenced, quoting the author, title, university, degree level and pagination. Queries or requests for any other use, or if a more substantial copy is required, should be directed in the owner of the Intellectual Property Rights.” 2 Acknowledgements Foremost, I want to say a big thank you to all of the participants that volunteered to engage within this study. Without your valuable input this thesis would not have been possible. I am sincerely thankful and wish you all the best for your futures. I want to say a big thank you to my Supervisory Team, Dr. Nicholas Blagden and Dr. Sebastian Teicher who have provided me with amazing advice, support and feedback over the last two years. Their humorous style has kept me going to complete this thesis and helped me to progress into the research practitioner I am today. They have both enhanced my passion for research and I look forward to many collaborations with them both in the future. I also want to say thank you so much to Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) who have allowed me time to complete this work and to send me the required data set in order to complete this thesis. I want to say an extra special thank you to my wonderful Line Manager Dr. Kerensa Hocken. You have always supported me to be the best Psychologist I can be by re focusing back onto my core values and supporting me in completion of this thesis. Your guidance, advice and feedback has been valuable and I am lucky to have such a fantastic Manager. I would not have reached where I am today without the continuous support of my mother, and father. They have always brought me up to work hard and focus on what you want to achieve in life. I want to thank you for everything you have done for me over the years and for making me the person I am today. I could not have achieved this without the support and encouragement from my wonderful husband. You have always believed in my abilities and you have always been there to support me, offer constant praise and provide me with never ending witty motivational statements to keep me on track. You are my rock and without you I would be incomplete. Finally, I want to say a big thank you to my two beautiful daughters who have both provided me with a focus and strength to keep going. I hope to have inspired you both to be the individuals that you are and to go out there with focus and determination to achieve your best. 3 Publications from this thesis Journal articles Wood, C., Blagden, N., & Teicher, S. (In Prep). What are the risk factors and characteristics of an adult male convicted of voyeurism or exhibitionism? A Structured Review and Analysis. Wood, C., Blagden, N., & Teicher, S. (In Prep). “Voyeurism was my comfort blanket”. Living with Voyeurism: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Wood, C., Blagden, N., & Teicher, S. (In Prep). Are there different psychological needs for those with a conviction for voyeurism depending on their relationship status? Presentations Wood, C. (9th October 2018) Working with men who have a conviction for a Sexual Offence and identify as having a sexual interest. Presentation at the Women Inclusive Network Conference. Leicestershire Police, UK. 4 Abstract This thesis provides an exploration into voyeurism and the individuals that are committing this offence. Chapter one sets the scene introducing voyeurism and the thesis, Chapter two then extends this introduction by reviewing the current literature on the characteristics and risk factors of an adult male convicted of voyeurism and exhibitionism. The results indicate that there is very limited research exploring this area and what has been done is of poor quality and significantly dated. With only one limited paper attempting to look at voyeurism, the review found that further urgent research is needed into exploring who commits the offence of voyeurism. In order to further develop the field of research on voyeurism, chapter three explores the lived experiences of seven adult males convicted of voyeurism using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Three superordinate themes were identified as, (1) surrogate intimacy, (2) escapism from reality and (3) overwhelming habit. The results have implications for current policy and practice within Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). Chapter four then continues to explore voyeurism by considering if there are different psychological needs (self-esteem, emotional loneliness, attachment style and problem solving style) for individuals convicted of voyeurism depending on whether they identify as being within a relationship or single. Independent t-tests and Chi-Square analysis was conducted on the pre psychometrics of n:20 individuals convicted of voyeurism. Despite limited secondary data key characteristics were identified that has helped to provide up to date knowledge of the individuals that are committing the offence of voyeurism. The results have confirmed that there are different psychological needs depending on the relationship status of those with a conviction for voyeurism highlighting potential areas to explore in interventions. The research also found new information on who are the victims of voyeurism (age, gender and association). However, further research is needed in this area. Finally, Chapter five provides a conclusion to the thesis highlighting the implications of the research. 5 Contents Page Copyright and reuse: 2 Acknowledgements 3 Publications from this thesis 4 Abstract 5 List of appendices 9 Table and figures. 10 Chapter 1 12 Introduction to voyeurism 12 What is currently known about those who identify as having a sexual interest in voyeurism? 15 What are the potential explanations of voyeurism? 17 What is currently known about the victims of voyeurism? 24 What is currently being done to assess individuals with a conviction for voyeurism? 28 What intervention options are suitable for those with a sexual interest in voyeurism? 31 Introduction to Thesis 35 Thesis Structure 35 The aims of the thesis are: 36 Chapter 2 38 What are the risk factors and characteristics of an adult male convicted of voyeurism and exhibitionism? A Structured Review and Analysis. 38 Abstract 38 Introduction 39 Method 42 Protocol and Registration 42 Search Strategy 42 Study Eligibility 42 Data Extraction and Quality Assessment 43 Analysis 45 Results 53 Summary of studies included 53 Theme Identification 53 Theme 1: Background factors 54 Theme 2: Psychological and Personality Characteristics 55 6 Theme 3: Motivations 57 Theme 4: Psychological Function. 58 Discussion 59 Summary of Findings 59 Study Quality and Limitations 60 Implications for Further Research 62 Conclusion 63 Chapter 3 64 “Voyeurism was like a security blanket for me”. 64 Living with Voyeurism: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. 64 Introduction 64 Method 68 Sampling 68 Participants. 68 Ethics 69 Ethical approval 69 Procedure and Materials 69 Interview 71 Data analysis 71 Results and Discussion 73 Theme 1: Surrogate Intimacy 73 Emotional loneliness affecting ability to relate 74 Inability to develop intimacy 77 Inability to maintain intimacy 80 Theme 2: Escapism from reality 82 Avoidance of life’s problems 83 Hiding negative emotions 85 Distance from harm 87 Theme 3: Overwhelming habit 89 Uncontrollable urge 90 Uncontrollable addiction 92 Conclusion 94 Links with practice 96 Limitations with this study and links to further research within this area 98 Chapter 4 100 Are there different psychological characteristics and psychological needs for those with a conviction for voyeurism depending on their relationship status? 100 Introduction 100 Method 104 7 Participant information 104 Materials 107 Data collection and ethical considerations 107 Measures of psychological differences and normative data 107 Ethical approval 110 Results 110 Psychological characteristics 110 Psychological differences 112 Victim characteristics 115 Discussion 117 Study Limitations 119 Implications for further research 120 Conclusion 121 Chapter 5 122 Conclusion to the thesis 122 The aims of the thesis 122 Final thoughts 132 References 133 Appendices 163 Appendix 1 164 Final quality assessment 164 Appendix 2 167 Excluded Studies 167 Appendix 3 168 Invitation to participate 168 Appendix 4 169 Information sheet about the research 169 Appendix 5 172 Consent Form 172 Appendix 6 174 Example Questions 174 8 List of appendices PAGE CHAPTER 2 Appendix 1 Quality assessment for all five 164 studies using the CASP guidelines Appendix 2 List of excluded studies 167 CHAPTER 3 Appendix 3 Memo to invite participants to 168 engage within study Appendix 4 Information sheet for participants 169 Appendix 5 Consent form for participants 172 Appendix 6 Interview schedule 174 9 Table and figures. PAGE CHAPTER 2 Table 2.1 Inclusion and Exclusion criteria 42 Table 2.2 Summary of studies included 46 Table 2.3 Themes emerged from 53 analysis Figure 1 PRISMA flow diagram of 43 search strategy for structured review CHAPTER 3 Table 3.1 Participant information 68 Table 3.2 Superordinate and subordinate 73 themes that emerged during the IPA analysis CHAPTER 4 Table 4.1 Demographics and offending 105 comparisons Table 4.2 Psychological characteristics 111 Table 4.3 Measures on self-esteem 112 and emotional loneliness. Table 4.4 Measures on self-esteem 112 and emotional loneliness compared to normative data Table 4.5 Measures on attachment 113 Table 4.6 Measures on attachment 114 compared to normative data 10 Table 4.7 Measures on problem 114 solving style.