DEFENSE MECHANISMS/THINKING ERRORS

Rationalization:

When you rationalize, you make excuses to explain and justify your behavior, even though you know that what you are doing is wrong. For example, "every woman likes to be 'taken'" or "I was just educating her about sex."

Intellectualization.

When you intellectualize something, you are avoiding reality by trying to explain away issues through abstraction or theorizing. You avoid dealing with real issues and emotions and try to make something sound OK even though it may be very deviant. For example, "I feel that every young girl should learn about sex from someone who loves and understands her" (as an excuse for molesting a six year-old girl).

Denial.

Denial is when you refuse to admit the truth about your crimes or the problems you have. Denial is very common among sex offenders. Denial, simply put, is not admitting the truth. "I never raped her" is an example.

Minimization.

When you minimize your behavior, you try to make it out to be less serious than it really is. You intentionally downplay and understate the truth about a situation. "I only took her for a ride" (when discussing a kidnapping) or "I only touched her."

Religiosity.

Many sex offenders become OVERLY religious after they are caught. We encourage you to connect with a higher power and develop the spiritual side of your life. True spirituality supports your being responsible in your life. Religiosity is using your religion or spirituality to AVOID being responsible. Some sex offenders use their religion wrongly. They try to make it an excuse to not involve themselves in treatment. They make statements such as "I am a Christian now and have to walk with God. I don't need treatment because I am saved and have been forgiven." This type of thinking tries to excuse you from personal responsibility by using religion inappropriately. Religion is not a crutch to avoid dealing with real life issues and problems but is an aid and comfort to help you face reality.