Development of a Case Formulation Model for Individuals Who Have Viewed, Distributed, and/or Shared Child Sexual Exploitation Material

Increases in the number of arrests of individuals who download or distribute Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM) have highlighted a need to further understand the offending pathways of this offender group. Based on a literature review on individuals who have acknowledged their CSEM offending behaviour, this paper describes the development of the first aetiological model specific to CSEM offending. Users of CSEM (n = 20) were interviewed regarding their life and sexual history, relationships, substance use, offending details, and circumstances leading to their CSEM offending, resulting in seven superordinate themes: Developmental Context, Individual Propensities (risk-related and risk-protective) and Psychological Vulnerabilities, Personal Circumstances, Permission Giving Thoughts, Internet Environment and Behaviour, Evaluation of Consequences for the Individual, and Desistance. The resulting model presents the first case formulation tool specific for individuals who have committed CSEM offending behaviour, with the aim of providing guidance for assessment and treatment providers.