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However, research is severely lacking on the role which ToM may play in sexual violence. Hence, in order to elucidate such issues, following a theoretical discussion of these concepts, we propose an integrated Social Information Processing (SIP) framework to understand how empathy and ToM may be involved in sexual violence perpetration. This framework includes the steps laid out by Crick and Dodge\u2019s original SIP model, the emotional processes emphasised by Lemerise and Arsenio, the empathy stages identified by Marshall and colleagues, and our propositions concerning the role played by ToM. In this theoretical article, we argue that ToM and empathy are primarily involved in earlier SIP stages, but may have repercussions on subsequent stages as SIP is cyclical. Nonetheless, greater research is needed to conclusively identify where deficits lie. In terms of clinical implications, we recommend that empathy and ToM be targeted in interventions (primary, secondary and tertiary) using cognitive-behavioural therapy principles which are involved in, and affect, SIP.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/10790632251315174","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,15]],"date-time":"2025-01-15T13:52:17Z","timestamp":1736949137000},"page":"830-852","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The Roles of Empathy and Theory of Mind in Sexual Violence Perpetration: An Integrated Social Information Processing Framework"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"37","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5342-8209","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sarah","family":"Tibbels","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Lille, Lille, France"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Massil","family":"Benbouriche","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Lille, Lille, France"},{"name":"Research Center, National Institute of Forensic Psychiatry Philippe-Pinel, Canada"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_4_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1521\/jscp.1998.17.2.167"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/ab.20107"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/oso\/9780195095814.003.0008"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_5_1","volume-title":"The psychology of criminal conduct","author":"Andrews D. 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