NCJ Number
122673
Journal
Behavioral Sciences and the Law Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1988) Pages: 239-256
Date Published
1988
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Incestuous males seldom repeat their behavior once disclosure occurs, while men with other sexual anomalies generally have a recidivism rate of 10 percent or higher.
Abstract
Twenty-nine incest and 22 heterosexual pedophilic offenders, under sentence, participated in a study of therapeutic outcome. Results showed the two groups were similar in their pretreatment level of psychosocial functioning. However, pedophiles had significantly higher recidivism rates than incestuous men, while incest offenders changed most relative to single or married pedophiles. Pedophiles were more resistant to treatment in dealing with their disturbed family relations and demonstrated verbal hostility, irritability, and feelings of anger that, in part, underlie their sexual anomaly. At the 36-month follow up, only two incest and four pedophilic men had recidivated. The discussion links these findings with earlier research and proposes a multimodal, group-oriented approach to treating sex offenders. 5 tables, 68 references. (Author abstract modified)