NCJ Number
209125
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 40 Issue: 1/2 Dated: 2004 Pages: 23-40
Date Published
2004
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study examined differences in the characteristics of intrapsychic conflict between incarcerated sex offenders and incarcerated non-sex offenders.
Abstract
While previous research on sex offenders has uncovered similar and consistent characteristics among this group of offenders, such as lack of empathy and distorted cognitions, there has been a lack of research focus on the role that intrapsychic conflict may play in the commission of sexual offenses. As such, the current study compared 117 incarcerated sex offenders with 114 incarcerated non-sex offenders in terms of their affective and cognitive characteristics of intrapsychic conflict. Participants, who were incarcerated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, completed four subscales of the Garos Sexual Behavior Index (GSBI) measuring intrapsychic conflict: Discordance, Permissive, Sexual Obsession, and Sexual Stimulation subscales. Results indicated that the sex offenders suffered greater degrees of intrapsychic conflict, as measured by the GSBI subscales, when compared to non-sex offenders. This finding is consistent with previous research that has suggested that sex offenders utilize self-denigrating coping strategies, contributing to their negative emotional states. Future research should focus on whether specific types of sex offenders differ in measurements of sexual shame. Treatment providers should be aware of the relationship between low self-esteem and shame. Tables, references, notes, appendixes