Date/Time
Date(s) - 12/06/2024
9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Categories
Hitting Reset: Examining the Gamer Culture through a Sexual Offense Lens
David Delmonico, Ph.D., Stephen Kuniak, Ph.D., NCC, ACS, LPC, & Natalie Drozda, Ph.D.
Friday December 6, 2024 @ 9:00am -12:30pm
3 APA CEs and 3 Counseling CEs available
3 New York SW CEUs also available
Apex. Halo. Dark Souls. Call of Duty. Minecraft. Fortnite. LoL. GTA. WoW. Roblox. Totally an NPC. What a blueberry! For some, the lingo might seem like a foreign language, but the pervasive nature of gaming and its media necessitates even a basic understanding for clinicians and care teams. Not only is gaming an engaging pastime, but it provides a platform for people to interact and communities to be built, with nearly endless access to novelty and new connections. An estimated 65% of Americans play video games, that is about 215.5 million individuals – some of those gamers are also individuals who commit sexual offenses. The intersection of technology and sexual behavior is significant, with sexual innuendo, online sexual interactions, and direct discussions about sexuality frequently occurring in gaming environments, and sometimes between adults and children. It behooves treatment providers and probation officers to comprehend “gamer culture” and its role in grooming behavior and sexual offenses. For instance, adults may meet minors while gaming, build connection, gain trust, and then take the interaction to other platforms or even offline. Certainly, the majority of gamers do not commit sexual offenses, but the online world provides opportunities for such behaviors that were not historically available.
Research demonstrates that people do not exhibit the same behaviors in virtual versus face-to-face interactions. The psychology of technology and the Internet provides a useful framework for understanding how use of gaming technology can veer into illegal behaviors. Interacting with others through a game or related media can provide just enough presumed distance that people believe they are anonymous and take risks they would not normally take. Perceived separation from real-world consequences can embolden individuals and underscores how the virtual environment impacts decision-making processes. Presenters will describe how the psychology of the Internet intersects with gaming and offense behavior. Additionally, they will address trauma and addiction as potential precursors and exacerbating factors in problematic and illegal technology use. This workshop will use lecture and demonstration to illustrate the risks that gaming may pose when sexual offense behavior is involved. The use of gaming consoles to browse the Internet for pornography and store illegal images will be discussed. Other platforms and technologies, such as Discord, Twitch, OnlyFans for Gamers, will be included regarding their relevance to offense behavior.
Gaming is a ubiquitous, multi-billion-dollar force that is here to stay. While it is a positive outlet for some, others can struggle with maintaining balance. Internet Gaming Addiction is a current diagnosis being considered for inclusion in the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). This diagnosis will be discussed in terms of its possible overlap with sexual offense behavior. Prevention strategies, management techniques, assessment questions, and treatment ideas will all be addressed, along with the positive aspects of gaming for individuals who have committed a sexual offense. These topics include using visuals to identify different “zones” of behavior as well as creative ideas to gamify the treatment process and develop healthy strategies for using gaming and related Internet technology. Finally, we will discuss the future outlook for gaming, technology, and sexuality including the use of artificial intelligence.
Clinicians, Probationers, and staff working with adults who have sexually offended |Intermediate
Training Goals and Objectives
- Explain the “gamer” culture and its relationship with sexual offense behaviors.
- Describe how gamers can use in-game sexualized behaviors to engage in concerning sexual behaviors, including sexual offense behavior.
- Identify 3 specific skills for discussing gaming with individuals who commit sexual offenses in a therapeutic way.
Sex Offenders Civil Commitment Programs Network in conjunction with the NJ Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. The Sex Offenders Civil Commitment Programs Network (SOCCPN) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SOCCPN maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Certificate of attendance available upon request
Prior registration required. Zoom link will be emailed after the close of registration.
Registration Fees:
NJ ATSA / NYS ATSA Member with no CEs – $30
Non-member with no CEs – $50
Non-member with 3 APA CEs – $75
Non-member with 3 Counseling CEs – $75
Non-member with 3 NEW YORK SW CEUs – $75
NJ ATSA / NYS ATSA Member with 3 APA CEs – $45
NJ ATSA / NYS ATSA Member with 3 Counseling CEs – $45
NYS ATSA Member with 3 NEW YORK SW CEUs – $45
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.