Non sex offenders display distorted thinking and have empathy deficits too: A thematic analysis of cognitions and the application of empathy

It is generally assumed that empathy acts to disinhibit behaviour that could be perceived as detrimental to others and as a result is a common feature of offender treatment programmes. The present research hypothesised that empathy in all populations is both a situational and a selective process that is ultimately governed by self-interest and further, that it is the nature of the self-interest that distinguishes individuals rather than a general empathy deficit per se. Empathic processes were observed in a non-offending population in a personal situation normally regarded as evocative of empathy, infidelity. Thematic analysis of data from individuals who reported being faithful or unfaithful to their partners, revealed five dominant themes: Vulnerable Predisposition, Emotional Motivators, Rational Emotive Decision Making, Avoiding Cognitive Dissonance, and Lack of Remorse. The themes all revealed how individuals employed cognitive strategies, which were managed by self-interest that functioned to create cognitive states devoid of empathy.