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Becoming a success story: how boys who have molested children talk about treatment
Author(s) -
LAWSON L.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.69
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1365-2850
pISSN - 1351-0126
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2850.2003.00554.x
Subject(s) - grounded theory , active listening , perspective (graphical) , context (archaeology) , psychology , psychotherapist , qualitative research , sociology , computer science , paleontology , social science , artificial intelligence , biology
This grounded theory study was designed to generate a mid‐range theory of treatment from the perspective of boys who have molested children and undergone outpatient treatment. Data included information from seven boys’ charts, their written responses to open‐ended questions, and audio‐taped interviews. The interviews generated a series of statements reflecting the boys’ experiences in treatment, which were analysed by the constant comparative method. The basic social process of treatment was ‘becoming a success story’. The structural elements of becoming a success story included relapse prevention, compliance and decision‐making. The boys integrated these structural elements by talking to people they trusted, listening to what people said, and using what people said to help them do what was right. Becoming a success story took place in a context of family and community support. In its current form, this theory of treatment success can be used in practice to monitor progress through treatment.