NCJ Number
212094
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Dated: 2005 Pages: 49-66
Date Published
2005
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study examined relationships between type of child sexual offender, the use of violence during the most recent child sexual offense, criminal versatility, and psychopathy.
Abstract
Current research on the relationship of psychopathy to child sexual offending has led to interesting findings that deserve more research attention. The current study analyzed the relationship between psychopathy and a variety of child sexual offending factors. Main hypotheses under investigation were: (1) psychopathy scores would be highest for same-sex extrafamilial child sexual offenders, lower for opposite-sex extrafamilial child sexual offenders, and lowest for incest offenders; (2) psychopathy scores would be positively associated with violent sexual offending; and (3) psychopathy scores would be related to criminal versatility. Participants were 111 adult males accused of sexual crimes against children 16 years of age or younger who completed the Revised Psychopathy Checklist (PCL-R) and were evaluated by staff on measures of criminal responsibility and competency to stand trial. Results of statistical analyses indicated no differences between type of child sexual offenders and psychopathy. Moreover, no significant relationship was observed between criminal versatility and psychopathy for child sexual offenders. Results did indicate, however, higher psychopathy scores for child sexual offenders who employed violence against their victims. Future research may gain a greater understanding of these interactions by viewing psychopathy as a continuous variable rather than as a dichotomous variable. Tables, references