Characteristics of abused and nonabused adolescent sexual offenders

The current study was designed to provide further information on characteristics of adolescent sexual offenders who have and have not experienced abuse. The subjects were approximately 300 adolescent offenders seen in a clinical treatment program. Abused and nonabused adolescent offenders were compared on a number of offense-specific variables and standardized instruments including the MMPI, Interpersonal Behavior Survey, Family Adaptation and Cohesion Evaluation Scale, and Self-Reported Delinquent Behavior Checklist. Results indicated that those offenders who were sexually abused had an earlier onset of their offending, had more victims, were likely to abuse both males and females, and tended to show more psychopathology and interpersonal problems, although no differences were found in terms of self-reported delinquent behavior of family functioning. The data are discussed in terms of their possible etiological significance and clinical implications.     

A comparison of incestuous biological and stepfathers

Biological and stepfathers who committed incestuous acts on their daughters were compared on sexual history and preference and on personality, using the Phallometric Test of Erotic Preference (Freund & Blanchard, 1989), the Clarke Sex History Questionnaire (Langevin, et al, 1990), and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). The cases were drawn from a data base of 200 incest offenders seen for psychological assessment. Results showed that the two groups of fathers did not differ significantly in their penile responses to pictures of men, women, boys, and girls, and most showed largest responses to adult females. However a significant percentage of both groups showed largest responses to children, indicating pedophilia. Although there was considerable individual variation in sexual history, offenders in both groups had most of their sexual experiences with adult females. Experiences with males were infrequent and limited to adults. The two groups showed few differences in personality. Nevertheless substantial numbers of offenders in both groups showed anxiety, disturbed family background and confused thinking. The results overall showed few differences between incestuous biological and stepfathers in sexual history and preferences and in personality. Similar dynamics appear operative in the two groups, i.e., pedophilia, limited sexual history, and personality pathology are present in selected cases. Possible group differences in other factors prominent in sexual offenders, e.g., substance abuse or neuropsychological impairment, have yet to be examined.     

Use of the MMPI and its derived scales with sex offenders

A total of 157 sex offenders were administered the MMPI. They were subdivided into violent and nonviolent, substance abuser versus nonabuser, criminal history versus no criminal history, CT brain abnormalities versus no abnormalities and into more and less defensive groups. From the MMPI, 125 scales measuring sexual behavior, substance abuse, violence, personality, defensiveness, and brain damage were examined for reliability, factor structure and discriminant validity. Results showed that most scales were internally consistent. Discriminant validity was modest in most cases but results suggest that many scales examined would be useful aids in screening and profiling sex offenders.     

Childhood Attachment,Childhood Sexual Abuse,and Onset of Masturbation Among Adult Sexual Offenders

Written autobiographies of 48 incarcerated adult male sexual offenders (22 rapists, 13 intrafamilial child molesters, and 13 extrafamilial child molesters) were used to generate retrospective self-report measures of their childhood maternal and paternal attachment, childhood sexual abuse experiences, and onset of masturbation. Contrary to expectation, the offenders as a combined group more often reported secure than they did insecure childhood maternal and paternal attachment. There were no differences between the three offender subgroups with respect to maternal attachment; however the rapists and the intrafamilial child molesters were more likely to report insecure paternal attachment than were the extrafamilial child molesters. There were no differences between these offender subgroups in the frequency with which childhood sexual abuse was reported. However, offenders with insecure paternal attachment were more likely to report having been sexually abused than were those with secure paternal attachment. Sexually abused offenders in turn reported earlier onset of masturbation than did those who were not sexually abused. These results are consistent with contemporary attachment models linking insecure childhood attachment to childhood sexual abuse, and with traditional conditioning models linking childhood sexual abuse, early masturbation, and sexual offending.     

Specificity in the Relations among Childhood Adversity, Early Maladaptive Schemas, and Symptom Profiles in Adolescent Depression

The present cross-sectional study examined the relations of particular forms of childhood adversity (e.g., emotional maltreatment vs. physical abuse vs. sexual abuse) to specific early maladaptive schema themes (e.g., worthlessness/loss vs. danger) and symptom profiles (i.e., anhedonic vs. anxious). Seventy-six depressed adolescents retrospectively reported on their childhood experiences of emotional maltreatment, physical abuse, and sexual abuse in a contextual semi-structured interview. They were also administered the Young Schema Questionnaire to measure early maladaptive schemas, and the Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire to measure anhedonic and anxious symptomatology. Consistent with specificity hypotheses, schemas with themes of loss/worthlessness preferentially mediated the relation between childhood adversity and anhedonic symptoms, while schemas with themes of danger preferentially mediated the relation between childhood adversity and anxious symptoms. Sexual abuse was not significantly associated with either depression or anxiety symptoms and, thus, mediation models involving sexual abuse were not tested. Implications for fine-grained models of etiology in depression are discussed.

Diabetes in sex offenders

Thirteen diabetic male sex offenders were compared to 13 nondiabetic sex offenders matched on age, education and offense type. A standard battery of tests administered in the assessment of sex offenders was used to compare the two groups. The tests examine sexual history and preference, substance abuse, violence, personality, and neuropsychological impairment. Results showed that diabetics more often than controls complained of impotence and were nonresponders during phallometric testing. Diabetics, as adults, tended to have less sexual experience with adults and more with pubescent females. The two groups did not differ in number of sexual or nonsexual offenses. The diabetics reported more problems controlling their emotions and more often than controls presented in assessment with inappropriate and/or aggressive behavior and poor cooperation. MMPI results showed diabetics to have more overall clinical disturbance than controls including anxiety, health concerns, family problems, authority problems, criminality, confused thinking and ruminating. Diabetics and controls did not differ in reported frequency of violent behavior but the diabetics responded more extremely, given the circumstances. Diabetics tended to show more violence to their own children. The role of diabetes in the relapse cycle model of offending is discussed.     

Identifying violence-proneness in sex offenders

A total of 118 sex offenders were compared on two measures of violence-proneness (the Clarke Violence Scale or CVS and the Forensic Assessment of Violence or FAV) and the AECOM Coping Scales. The sex offenders were divided into 29 violent and 89 nonviolent cases, based on their criminal histories of sexual and assault offences. Both the CVS and FAV discriminated violent and nonviolent cases but improvements in the measures are needed. The AECOM Minimization, Mapping, and Reversal Coping Scales discriminated the two groups as well. The FAV results, especially, were influenced by test-taking response set. Distinctions between self-perceptions of violence and violent behavior are highlighted and discussed.     

Developmental Antecedents of Sexual Coercion in Juvenile Sexual Offenders

Previous research has linked adult sex offending behavior to a multiplicity of variables, including juvenile delinquency and the experience of childhood abuse. The purpose of this study was to explore developmental pathways among childhood abuse, juvenile delinquency, and personality dimensions possibly conducive to adolescent sexual coercion. Using a retrospective self-report inventory, we measured the extent to which juvenile sexual offenders experienced childhood trauma, engaged in adolescent delinquency, and exhibited particular dispositions and cognitive biases. The effects of childhood and adolescent antecedents on sexual coerciveness were then analyzed through simultaneous multiple regression path analyses. Results suggest that sexual compulsivity and hypermasculinity, through misogynistic fantasy behavior, significantly discriminate verbally and physically coercive juvenile offenders from those offenders who do not report using force in their offenses. Results also suggest that alcohol abuse may play a more salient role in the expression of coercive juvenile sexual coercion than previously hypothesized.     

Resiliency in the Victim–Offender Cycle in Male Sexual Abuse

The prevalence of childhood sexual abuse in child molesters is considerably higher than that in the general population. This finding had led to the victim–offender cycle being popularized as an explanation for sexual offending. However, not all child molesters were victimized as children, so it is of interest to examine the factors that contribute to the victim–offender cycle or, conversely, resiliency. This study examined the moderating factors that may prevent a male victim of sexual abuse from entering the victim–offender cycle. Two groups were interviewed as part of the study: a resilient group (n = 47) and a victim–offender group (n = 41). After correction for age and education level, the resilient group were less likely to have fantasized and masturbated about the abuse, less likely to report deriving pleasure from the abuse, more likely to have had frequent social contact with adolescent peers and to have had more family and nonfamily support during childhood. The findings support the need for multifactorial models of resiliency, the victim–offender cycle, and sexual offending. Recommendations about the prevention of the victim–offender cycle are made, including the need for a thorough systemic assessment of all male victims of sexual abuse and the involvement of their family system in counseling.     

Psychosocial and Developmental Characteristics of Civilly Committed Sex Offenders

A convenience sample of 38 civilly committed sex offenders completed questionnaires on selected psychosocial and developmental characteristics. More than half (61%) demonstrated an external locus of control. They had higher levels of empathy compared to normative data for the general population, and their levels of anger, aggression, and hostility were similar to male college students. Somatization was comparable to psychiatric outpatients. A high proportion reported at least one form of childhood trauma (87%), with 66% reporting childhood sexual abuse. Issues related to the use of self-report instruments with this patient population are discussed and recommendations for future studies are suggested.     

Characteristics of perpetrators of child sexual abuse who have been sexually victimized as children

This paper reports on a study of all convicted child sexual abusers in S.E. London. Almost half the offenders reported experiences of sexual victimization in childhood, and the authors aimed to explore the differences between the abused and nonabused child sexual abusers. A range of background and offending variables were examined. It was found that sexually victimized child abusers were significantly more likely to have experienced a range of childhood abuse and associated difficulties; they were more likely to have a range of psychosexual difficulties, to report greater levels of deviant offence-related attitudes on psychometric measure, to be recidivists, and to offend against boys. Both emotional abuse/physical neglect in childhood and having homosexual contacts in adulthood significantly contributed to a predictive model, reliably distinguishing between sexually victimized and nonsexually victimized child sexual abusers. The implication of these findings for treatment approaches for sex offenders is discussed.     

The sex killer

Thirteen sex killers were compared to 13 nonsex killers and 13 nonhomicidal sexually aggressive men on sexual history, substance abuse, history of violence, mental illness and personality, brain pathology and endocrine abnormalities. There were more similarities among the three groups than differences. Among the findings, the presence of transvestism and the early appearance of sadism differentiated the sex killers from the other two groups. Sex killers also killed by strangulation more often than nonsex killers and more often victimized a female stranger. The sex killer was more often diagnosed as antisocial personality and sadist than the other two groups. They were more often considered psychotic at the time of their offence and more often considered not guilty by reason of insanity. Directions for future research are noted.     

Factors influencing child abuse and neglect recognition and reporting by nurses: A multivariate analysis

Background

Reporting of known and suspected child abuse and neglect is a fundamental responsibility of health professionals in many countries including Australia. Nurses’ duties to report child abuse and neglect are expressed in legislation, or in occupational policy documents. In this paper factors influencing nurses’ compliance with mandated reporting are examined.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between nurse characteristics, training, knowledge of legislative reporting duty and attitudinal factors on the reporting by nurses of different types of child abuse and neglect.

Methods

Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine relationships between variables.

Design, setting and participants

A cross-sectional survey using the Child Abuse and Neglect Nurses’ Questionnaire (CANNQ) was conducted. The respondents were 930 Registered Nurses (RNs) currently working across metropolitan, rural and remote locations throughout the state of Queensland, Australia.

Results

Nurses were confident and knowledgeable in their obligation to report physical [CPA] and sexual [CSA] abuse. They were less confident and knowledgeable about emotional abuse [CEA] and neglect [CN]. Recognition of the extent of harm to abused and neglected children was poor. Positive attitudes to mandatory reporting influenced better recognition of all forms of abuse and neglect and the likelihood of reporting CSA, CEA and CN; parenting experience influenced intention to report child sexual abuse, and CAN training predicted reporting of child neglect.

Conclusions and practice implications

Results indicate that with training, nurses are a key choice for mandating child abuse and neglect reporting. Educational preparation and training for nurses should emphasise the serious impact of child abuse and neglect on children and families to improve recognition of the extent of harm and the likelihood of reporting. From a perspective of increasing compliance with the legislative duty, particular attention needs to be paid to recognition and reporting of CEA and CN. Further research is needed to determine whether factors influencing sound reporting can be successfully modified.     

New Measures of Defensiveness,Empathy, and Cognitive Distortions for Sexual Offenders Against Children

Treatment of child molesters emphasizes three interrelated constructs: denial, empathy, and cognitive distortions. Thirty child molesters, 30 nonsexual offenders, and 30 controls answered three new tests of denial, empathy, and cognitive distortions anonymously; 30 other child molesters were instructed to fake good, and 44 child molesters who were seeking parole were also tested. The Sexual Social Desirability Scale (SSDS) measures attitudes about sex, sexual activities, and intimate sexual relationships. All offender groups attributed significantly more (p .05) positive characteristics to themselves than did controls. All sexual offender groups denied significantly more (p .05) negative characteristics than did the control and nonsexual offender groups. Even sexual offenders asked to fake good did not significantly differ in denial from those sexual offenders who answered anonymously or those in assessment for parole. For sexual offenders, denial was not significantly affected by demand characteristics. The Empathy (Empat) scale tested for lack of empathy specific to sexual abuse victims and general lack of empathy. Sexual offenders, even those faking good, showed less sexual abuse empathy than controls (p .05). In contrast, sexual offender scores of general empathy equaled controls'. The Child Molester Scale (CMS) was developed in an attempt to reduce the effects of socially desirable responding. Sexual offenders assessed for parole reported significantly more (p =.0026) cognitive distortions regarding adult–child sexual activity than did the control group but not less than nonsexual offenders. The SSDS, Empat, and CMS were significantly correlated.     

Emotional Congruence in Sexual Offenders Against Children

The tendency of some sexual offenders against children to display an exaggerated cognitive and emotional affiliation with childhood has been labeled emotional congruence by Finkelhor (1984) and as overidentification with childhood by others. This study consisted of an evaluation of emotional congruence in 194 men—homosexual and heterosexual pedophiles (N's = 41 and 31), heterosexual nonpedophilic incest offenders (N = 62), sexual offenders against women (N = 27), and nonsexual offender criminals (N = 33). A revised version of the Child Identification Scale (CIS-R) was used in combination with a semistructured interview (SSI) also intended to measure the construct. Maximum-likelihood factor analysis of the CIS-R generated eight factors. All subjects, particularly the nonsexual offenders, scored high on a factor indicating a wish to restart their lives. With respect to emotional congruence, results showed that only the homosexual pedophiles' scores indicated a preference for interacting with children on the child's level, while the incest offenders seemed to prefer to elevate their victims to adult status rather than fixating on the child role themselves. The group of heterosexual pedophiles, however, seemed to be motivated more by sexual gratification than by an emotional or relationship interest in their victims or children.     

Use of the MMPI and its derived scales with sex offenders: I. Reliability and validity studies

A number of MMPI derived scales were examined for their utility in the clinical assessment of sex offenders and for their ability to discriminate sex offenders from controls. The MMPIs from a total of 479 men were scored for scales measuring sexual behavior and deviance, substance abuse, personality, violence, suicide-proneness, defensiveness and brain damage. Each scale was examined for its internal consistency, using Cronbach's Alpha. Of the 125 scales examined, 70% had alphas greater than 0.60 and 80% discriminated sex offenders from controls at a better than chance level. Most scales were free of bias from age, education, IQ, and the MMPI L, F, and K Scales. The MMPI and its derived scales appear to be useful in screening of sex offenders and in evaluating their other problems which play a major role in their crimes.     

Mental Health Professionals' Perspectives on Sex Offender Registry Web Sites

In an attempt to reduce the occurrence of childhood sexual abuse, some state governments have passed legislation allowing the public access to sex offender registries. One of the ways this access is granted is through the world wide web (web). There is, however, limited research on the impact this type of community notification has on actual rates of child sexual abuse. This study investigates the opinions of 133 mental health professionals who work with sex offenders regarding the implications of public sex offender registry web sites. Over 80% of the participants in this study do not believe that sex offender registry sites will affect the number of children who are sexually abused each year. Seventy percent of the respondents also believe that a listing of sex offenders on the web will create a false sense of security for parents, and over 60% of the respondents believe that sex offenders who are listed on these sites will become targets of vigilantism in their community. Implications for future research are provided.     

Mediating factors in the development of psychopathology in victims of childhood sexual abuse

The effects of sexual abuse and victim-offender characteristics have been studied extensively in relation to short- and long-term psychological consequences. However, few studies have focused on mediating factors in the development of psychological sequelae associated with sexual abuse. Three hundred seventy-nine students at Washington State University were recruited from psychology courses and administered a battery of assessments. These assessments included a modified version of Groth's Sexual Victimization questionnaire, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Results revealed that 115 subjects (30%) reported at least one level of sexual abuse before the age of 18 years. Significant differences on the main effect of abuse were found between abused and nonabused subjects on selected validity, clinical, and research scales of the MMPI. When family dysfunction was covaried, no differences were found between abused and nonabused subjects on the main effect of abuse, suggesting that family dysfunction did not account for differences between groups. In addition, a main effect of psychopathology was found between victims who reported high and those who reported lower levels of psychopathology. Differences between subjects with a history of abuse and those with no history of abuse were found on the confrontive coping, escape-avoidance, self-controlling, and distancing scales. Finally, significant differences on the main effect of abuse were found between victims who had experienced more frequent abuse and who were more familiar to the offender and victims who were less frequently abused and less familiar to the offender. Differences were found on several clinical and research scales of the MMPI and on the self-control, accepting responsibility, and escape-avoidance scales of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. The victims who were more frequently abused and familiar with the offender had elevated scores when compared to other victims. Mediating factors, such as coping, seemed to play some role in the long-term effects of sexual abuse. Recommendations for future research in the area of other possible mediating factors and longitudinal research are suggested.     

Effects of a Relapse Prevention Program on Sexual Recidivism: Final Results From California’s Sex Offender Treatment and Evaluation Project (SOTEP)

Final results from a longitudinal investigation of the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral treatment with sexual offenders are presented. The study was a randomized clinical trial that compared the reoffense rates of offenders treated in an inpatient relapse prevention (RP) program with the rates of offenders in two (untreated) prison control groups. No significant differences were found among the three groups in their rates of sexual or violent reoffending over an 8-year follow-up period. This null result was found for both rapists and child molesters, and was confirmed in analyses using time to reoffense as the outcome and those controlling for static risk differences across the groups. Closer examination of the RP groups performance revealed that individuals who met the programs treatment goals had lower reoffense rates than those who did not. Although our results do not generally support the efficacy of the RP model, they do suggest a number of ways in which this kind of treatment program can be improved. This study also emphasizes the importance of including appropriate control groups in treatment outcome research. Additional controlled investigations are needed to address the many questions that remain about when and how treatment works for sexual offenders.     

Identifying sexual preferences in intrafamilial and extrafamilial child sexual abusers

Twenty-seven erotic and sexually neutral movie clips were shown to 191 men, consisting of 62 heterosexual intrafamilial child sexual abusers, 57 heterosexual and 25 homosexual extrafamilial child sexual abusers and 47 community controls. The stimuli depicted males and females from ages 6 to 25 years. Maximum penile volume changes were recorded during the 30 second stimulus presentations. Analyses showed that the phallometric test had high internal consistency (alpha=0.93) and revealed the expected erotic preference profiles for controls and extrafamilial offender groups. The homosexual group reacted most to 13–15 year old boys which made them more easily discriminated from the other groups. The intrafamilial offenders, however, overlapped considerably with controls and only 10% showed a pattern of penile responses expected for the classical pedophile, i.e., largest responses to female children. The pattern of results supported the accumulating evidence that child sexual abusers are heterogeneous in terms of their sexual preference profiles.