Product Description

Does the Internet engender sexual abuse of children? How do you identify sex offenders on the Internet?

The availability of child pornography on the Internet has become a cause of huge social concern in recent years. This book considers the reality behind the often-hysterical media coverage of the topic. Drawing on extensive new research findings, this book examines how child pornography is used on the Internet, identifies the social context in which such uses occur, and develops a model of offending behavior to better help understand and deal with the processes of offending. Detailed interviews and offenders' own accounts are used to illustrate the processes involved in offending and treatment.

Arguing that we need to refine our ideas of offending, and that while severe deterrents need to be associated with possession of child pornography, the authors contend that a better comprehension is needed of the links between possession and committing a contact offence. This book is an essential read for anyone involved with offenders or victims, from a psychological, judicial or social background.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #197032 in Books
• Published on: 2003-04-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 248 pages

Review
Taylor and Quayle present a well-balanced account of the social and psychological processes involved in collecting child pornography, as well as the role of the internet in these processes. Despite some of the inherent limitations in this field of study, this book is worthwhile for anyone interested in this area of sexuality research, whether from a research, clinical or social perspective..
–Corey R. Isaacs, University of Western Ontario--New Media & Society

About the Author
Professor Max Taylor is Professor of Applied Psychology at University College Cork, and director of the COPINE Project. He is a Chartered Forensic Psychologist, with extensive experience of research in areas related to the criminal justice system.

Dr. Ethel Quayle is a College Lecturer in the Department of Applied Psychology at University College Cork, and a researcher with the COPINE Project. She is a clinical psychologist with extensive experience working with offenders.

Customer Reviews

a very good book
The book is very well researched and very well written. The authors explore not only the user of child pornogrphy on the Internet, but the psychology of collecting in general and the topic of computer addiction in general. They are quick to relate these topics to the topic at hand.

The authors are cautious against making unwarranted assumptions. They recognize the difference between child pornography and child erotica. In reply to Mr. Mankoff's question, the authors do not assume that all porno collectors are molesters. In fact, they explore the question of whether or not porno prevents contact crimes.

Just in case anyone is interested in using the book as a manual on accessing Internet child [...], the authors purposely omit any such information.

question
I haven't read the book yet (had to assign stars or this couldn't be posted) but I am curious as to whether the authors provide solid empirical evidence (not merely anecdotal) that the vast majority of those who download child pornography are also child MOLESTERS. We don't
assume consumers of adult porn are rapists. I deal with this problem
at www.differentdrummer.typepad.com in a post called "Child Pornography Hysteria." I should say I personally have no interest in either child or adult porn and do not condone adults having actual sex with children.