Sexual Offenders' State-of-Mind Regarding Childhood Attachment: A Controlled Investigation

• NCJ Number: 216216
• Journal: Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: July 2006 Pages: 289-302
• Author(s): Tania Stirpe; Jeffrey Abracen; Lana Stermac; Robin Wilson
• Date Published: July 2006
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined state-of-mind regarding childhood attachment for 61 subtypes of sex offenders (extrafamilial child molesters, incest offenders, and rapists) and compared them to samples of non-sexual offenders (violent and nonviolent) and nonoffenders.

Abstract

Findings indicate that across subtypes of sex offenders the majority of the sample were insecure in their state-of-mind regarding childhood attachment. Insecure attachments in childhood result in a fear of intimacy, a devaluing of intimacy, or seeking intimacy in maladaptive ways. Although insecurity of attachment was common to all subtypes of sex offenders compared to normative samples, there were important differences among subtypes of sex offenders regarding the type of insecurity. Most notable were the child molesters, who were significantly more likely to be confused and passive about attachments and what they wanted from others ("preoccupied"). Violent offenders, rapists, and to a lesser degree, incest offenders were more likely to minimize the importance of relationships ("dismissive"). Although still more likely to be categorized as "dismissing," nonviolent offenders were comparatively more likely to value attachments and intimacy. When assessing sex offenders, identifying their state-of-mind regarding attachment may provide insight into the motivational strategies underlying their offenses. The 61 adult male sex offenders were recruited as volunteers from correctional systems in Ontario, Canada. They were either incarcerated or on some form of conditional release in the community. All participants were administered the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), which is a structured, semi-clinical 20-question interview designed to elicit the respondent's account of his/her childhood attachment experiences, together with his/her assessments of the effects of those experiences on current functioning. It also explores the quality of these childhood relationships and the memories that might justify them. 2 tables and 38 references