Citation

Worling JR. Sex. Abuse 2001; 13(3): 149-166.

Affiliation

Sexual Abuse: Family Education & Treatment (SAFE-T) Program, Thistletown Regional Centre for Children & Adolescents, 51 Panorama Court, Toronto, Ontario, M9V 4L8, Canada. jworling@ican.net

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11486710

Abstract

California Psychological Inventory scores from 112 adolescent male sexual offenders aged 12-19 (M = 15.59, SD = 1.46) were examined. A cluster analysis of factor-derived scores revealed four personality-based subgroups: Antisocial/Impulsive, Unusual/Isolated, Overcontrolled/Reserved, and Confident/Aggressive. Significant differences were observed between groups regarding history of physical abuse, parental marital status, residence of the offenders, and whether or not offenders received criminal charges for their index sexual assaults. Subgroup membership was unrelated to victim age, victim gender, and offenders' history of sexual victimization. Recidivism data (criminal charges) were collected for a period ranging from 2 to 10 years (M = 6.23, SD = 2.02). Offenders in the two more pathological groups (Antisocial/Impulsive and Unusual/Isolated) were most likely to be charged with a subsequent violent (sexual or nonsexual) or nonviolent offense. The four-group typology based solely on personality functioning is remarkably similar to that found by W. R. Smith, C. Monastersky, and R. M. Deisher in 1987 from their cluster analysis of MMPI scores. In addition to implications for risk prediction, the present typology is suggestive of differential etiological pathways and treatment needs.

Language: en