Strategies for treatment of sex offenses against children with relationship therapy.
Thore Langfeldt
This workshop will present a neuropsychological model for understanding the development of sexual offensive behavior against minors. The model is based on old and recent research on amygdala. In the 1950th Kaada at the Neurophysiological institute in Oslo demonstrated sexual and emotional responses from stimulating amygdala and hypothalamus. Later in the 60th King et al. showed that these responses in kittens first appeared in hypothalamus and later in amygdala. Then Pellegrino in 1992 published the discovery of mirror neurons. The Still Face experiment from 1975 made by Tronick, is an excellent demonstration of the mirror neurons in amygdala. (on YouTube).
The relationship therapy will be demonstrated in relation to amygdala and its role in forming bonding and sexuality. It is well documented that attachment problems in relation to the development of sexual offensive behavior. Bill Marshall published several articles in the 1990th demonstrating how attachment problems and bonding are essential in the development of sexual offensive behavior. I will demonstrate with case histories both the neuropsychological development but also processes in therapy. The workshop is open for presenting case histories. Langfeldt.T (2024): Pedophilia. Pedosexual behabior, Psychological, Political and Legal aspects. Journal of Psychology & Behavior Research. Vol. 6. No. 2.
Thore Langfeldt specialist in Clinical Psychology and specialist in clinical sexology. He was educated psychologist at the University of Oslo in 1972. From 1968-1971 he had a student research stipend from Medical Faculty University in Oslo, working at Neurophysiological Institute at University of Oslo working with brain research, limbic structures. From 1971-1973 he had a Research fellowship from Hoffman La-Roche, Basel, working at Neurophysiological Institute Medical Faculty University of Oslo. In 1973-1974 he had a Research fellow Norwegian Research Council in brain research at the Neurophysiological Institute in Oslo. In 1974-1976 he had a Research fellow Norwegian Research Council studying sexology at Psychological Institute Univ. in Oslo. 1976-1980 working as psychologist and district leader at The Department of School Psychology in Oslo and in 1980-1983 he was department manager of an inpatient unit at Child Psychiatric Hospital, University of Oslo. In 1983 he started private practice in clinal psychology and sexology in Oslo and founded in 1989 a private Institute for Clinical Sexology and Therapy (IKST). In Oslo having treatment programs in sexology and sex offender treatment. There were 10 therapists connected to the institute. The institute got support from the government for treating sex offenders. IKST is co-operating with Psychological Institute at the University of Oslo training students in psychotherapy and supervising their thesis. From 2004 – 2006 he was senior researcher at Norwegian Centre on Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies. University in Oslo. The IKST treatment program for sex offenders was closed in 2020 when Oslo University Hospital started to work with sex offenders. Langfeldt was one of the founders of Nordic Association for clinical sexology, and the Norwegian Association for Sexology and president in both. Langfeldt was honored in 1999 by USA Foundation for Scientific Study of Sexuality, and honorary member of the Academy for Sexological Science in Poland. Crab Award from the Norwegian Association for Psychology 1987. (For presenting psychology in the media). In 2009 he got the Gold WAS Medal Award from the World Association for Sexology and Sexual Health. In 2011 he was knighted of the Order of St. Olav, 1st Class by the king of Norway for his work with group therapy with sex offenders.