Gender Constructions of Male Sex Offenders in Germany: Narrative Analysis from Group Psychotherapy

This study was conducted to analyze how male sexual offenders construct mental images of masculinity and femininity to provide insight into therapeutic treatment for such patients. The material examined in this study was comprised of 21 videotaped prison group therapy sessions in which the participating sexual offenders talked about their crimes and biographies. A qualitative data analysis software was used to apply a modified grounded theory methodology to the transcribed sessions. The resulting categories can be understood as descriptions of how the imprisoned men constructed gender images, and were based on three narrative levels: the structure of narration, the narrative positions in the story, and the interaction between the narrator and the other participants. According to the categories described in the narrative positions (the narrated self and the narrated significant male others), we constructed masculinity categorizations which corresponded to specific images of femininity (derived from the narrated significant female others). The constructions provided insight into the self-image of the narrator, as well as the accountability and positioning of himself and the other in regard to perpetrator-victim constructions. The study further revealed whether the participants either accepted or rejected responsibility and guilt for their crimes; this is essential for psychotherapeutic process and treatment.