The Perpetrators – who are they and how do they act?
Professor Wolfgang Berner’s keynote speech gives an overview of the personality structure, the motivations and the development of perpetrators. By using various typologies, the differences between the biographies of perpetrators are outlined. Additionally, the various strategies used by perpetrators in their approach to their victims are discussed and distinctions made between offences that are premeditated to a greater or lesser extent. Why are these violations happening and what impact do seduction and violence have on the actions of perpetrators? Are there psychological or psychodynamic models that can explain how a person becomes a perpetrator? Professor Wolfgang Berner will be addressing these questions in his speech.
The Therapy – what to do, what works and how?
Professor Wolfgang Berner will build on the previous discussion. He will describe the most effective ways of treating offenders in line with evidence from the current research base. He will explain how treatment works and what the limitations of the treatment are. The context and treatment setting is very important, particularly the matters of voluntariness, motivation or compulsion for treatment. Should perpetrators be forced to attend treatment by the justice system or not? What impact does compulsory attendance have on the therapists
What are the goals of the psychotherapeutic treatment of perpetrators? What are the potentials and the limitations of the treatment?
What impact do perpetrators’ own histories of sexual victimisation have? How can dealing with perpetrators’ own trauma be embedded in treatment?
What about perpetrators who cannot be treated? How do we distinguish between “treatable” and “untreatable”?
