NCJ Number
54256
Journal
RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS IN PSYCHOLOGY, PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIOR Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: (1978) Pages: 385-393
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS ARE REPORTED FOR A STUDY OF THE PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF 30 RAPISTS OF ADULT WOMEN, 20 RAPISTS OF CHILDREN, AND 28 NONVIOLENT MOLESTERS OF FEMALE CHILDREN.
Abstract
AN ANALYSIS OF THE MINNESOTA MULTIPHASIC PERSONALITY INVENTORY TEST RESULTS ON THE SUBJECTS REVEALED NO SIGNIFICANT MEAN SCALE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO RAPIST SAMPLES AND THE CHILD MOLESTER SAMPLE. THE CODED MEAN PROFILES FOR THE TWO RAPIST GROUPS IMPLIED AGGRAVATED HOSTILITY, RESENTFULNESS, SOCIAL ALIENATION, SELF-CENTEREDNESS, AND THE IMPULSIVE SEEKING OF IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION. IN CONTRAST, THE MEAN CODED PROFILE FOR THE CHILD MOLESTERS IMPLIED SELF-ALIENATION, LOW SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-DOUBT, ANXIETY, INHIBITION OF AGGRESSION, AVERSION TO VIOLENCE, NEED FOR REINFORCEMENT FROM OTHERS, AND FEELINGS OF INADEQUACY, INSECURITY, AND FEAR OF HETEROSEXUAL FAILURE. THE MOTIVATION OF THE TWO RAPIST GROUPS APPEARED TO BE MORE ASSAULTIVE THAN SEXUAL; THE MOTIVATION OF THE MOLESTER GROUP APPEARED TO BE THE SATISFYING OF SEXUAL NEEDS AT AN IMMATURE LEVEL OF SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT. THE TWO RAPIST SAMPLES WERE CONSIDERED TO BE OF EQUALLY AGGRESSIVE PATHOLOGY, WHICH IMPLIES THAT THE CHOICE OF THE VICTIM WAS MORE LIKELY A MATTER OF AVAILABILITY RATHER THAN THE VICTIM'S AGE. THE CHOICE OF THE VICTIM BY THE CHILD MOLESTER, HOWEVER, APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF A CULTIVATED ASSOCIATION OR INDUCEMENT OF A YOUNG CHILD, PRECIPITATED BY THE MOLESTER'S FEAR OF REJECTION AND FAILURE IN ADULT HETEROSEXUAL ADVANCES. THE TWO RAPIST SAMPLES APPEARED READILY INCLINED TOWARD VIOLENCE; THERE WAS APPARENTLY LITTLE DANGER THAT THE CHILD MOLESTER SAMPLE WOULD RESORT TO VIOLENCE SHOULD THEIR SEXUAL ADVANCES BE RESISTED OR REJECTED. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)