Citation

Tomak S, Weschler FS, Ghahramanlou-Holloway M, Virden T, Nademin ME. J. Sex. Aggress. 2009; 15(2): 139-148.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13552600902823063

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The present study evaluated the personality characteristics and psychopathology of internet sex offenders (ISOs) using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Second Edition (MMPI-2) to determine whether ISO personality profiles are different to those of general sex offenders (GSOs; e.g. child molesters and rapists). The ISOs consisted of 48 convicted males referred to a private sex offender treatment facility for a psychosexual risk assessment. The GSOs consisted of 104 incarcerated non-internet or general sex offenders. Findings indicated that ISOs scored significantly lower on the following scales: L, F, Pd and Sc. A comparison of the MMPI-2 scores of the ISO and GSO groups indicated that ISOs are a heterogeneous group with considerable within-group differences. Current findings are consistent with the existing literature on the limited utility of the MMPI-2 in differentiating between subtypes of sex offenders.