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Abstract
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VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study by Tingle et al. was to compare pedophiles and rapists in the area of childhood and adolescent experiences to explore the idea that pedophiles do comprise a different category of sexual offender.
METHODOLOGY:
A quasi-experimental method was employed using structured interview data from 64 admissions (over a 21 month period of time) to the North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center--a forensic psychiatric in-patient facility that diagnosed and treated mentally disordered sex offenders who requested transfer from the prison to the program. The philosophy of the program was that major personality construction was required for the sex offender to be able to function in society. Interviews were conducted with a standard interview schedule within 2-3 weeks of the 90 day evaluation period. Data that were collected were socio-developmental patterns, education, employment, marital and military histories, and physical and mental health history. Interviews were administered once by a psychiatric resident. At the end of the evaluation period, it was decided whether the resident should continue in the program. Of the 64 interviewed, 21 were rapists and 43 were child molesters. Rape was defined as the convicted act of sexual violence; child molestation was defined as nonviolent sexual criminality against children under 16. Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used to analyze the data.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
Comparisons were made between the rapists and child molesters in the areas of family unit, relationships with family members and other significant others outside the family, and problems with the educational system and the law. In social and demographic comparisons, it was found that the child molesters in the sample were significantly older, better educated, and were more likely to have an intact marriage at time of arrest. In family and child parent relationships, it was found that significantly more rapists came from broken homes. Significantly more child molesters had close relationships with their mothers, but there was an overall similarity in that both groups had a relative lack of fathering. Rapists were significantly more likely to have arguments with their mothers. Overall, in both groups, there was a considerable degree of violence both experienced and witnessed, and there was a large number who had been sexually abused as well in both groups. In the area of antisocial behavior, rapists were more likely to have been expelled from elementary school (about a third) and significantly more likely to have trouble getting along with teachers (p=<.01). Most of the men in both groups reported having no or few friends growing up. Rapists were significantly more likely to have participated in contact sports in high school (p=<.01). Overall, the rapists showed more signs of early aggression than the child molesters--the percent participating in adolescent fights, physical injury inflicted during a fight, fighting under the influence of alcohol, and destruction of property were significantly higher for the rapists (p=<.01). Comparison of criminal histories also reveal significant differences between rapists and child molesters; rapists were significantly more likely to have been charged with a violent crime after 18 (p=<.01) and to have had close friends in trouble with the law as an adult (p=<.001).
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
The authors recommended that further study might examine childhood and adolescent experiences in sexuality, aggression, and maternal relationships. Studies should also strive to achieve larger samples sizes and more standardized survey instruments. The Clarke Sexual History Questionnaire was suggested. It was argued that psychophysiologic testing of the subjects would lend to confirmation and identification of subgroups of sexual object preference for in-depth investigation.
EVALUATION:
This study is one of the more clearly defined and well executed studies in the field. Methodology was clear and appropriate for the task at hand; comparisons are the best means of differentiation. Weaknesses in the data such as sample size and possibility of atypicality in the sample are addressed. There has been little public knowledge of how rapists and child molesters differ beyond the stereotypes that are presented by media and popular opinion. This study shows and supports the notion that sexual criminality is a not a singular phenomenon. The better we can profile particular sexual criminals, the better we will be able to develop programs which can deal with their more specialized problems. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
KW - Florida
KW - Violence Causes
KW - Rape Causes
KW - Rape Offender
KW - Rape Risk Factors
KW - Sexual Assault Causes
KW - Sexual Assault Offender
KW - Sexual Assault Risk Factors
KW - Rapist vs. Child Molester
KW - Adult Male
KW - Adult Offender
KW - Adult Violence
KW - Male Offender
KW - Male Violence
KW - Child Abuse Offender
KW - Child Abuse Causes
KW - Child Abuse Risk Factors
KW - Child Sexual Abuse Causes
KW - Child Sexual Abuse Offender
KW - Child Sexual Abuse Risk Factors
KW - Child Molester
KW - Childhood Experience
KW - Parent Child Relations
KW - Family Relations
KW - Mother Child Relations
KW - Long-Term Effects
KW - Childhood Victimization
KW - Childhood Risk Factors
KW - Child Aggression
KW - Child Sexuality
KW - Juvenile Aggression
KW - Juvenile Sexuality
KW - Life Course
KW - Offender Characteristics
KW - Violence Against Women
KW - Child Abuse Effects
KW - Child Abuse Victim
KW - Child Physical Abuse Effects
KW - Child Physical Abuse Victim
KW - Child Sexual Abuse Effects
KW - Child Sexual Abuse Victim
KW - Child Witness
KW - Juvenile Witness
KW - Victim Turned Offender
KW - Domestic Violence Effects
KW - Domestic Violence Victim
KW - Witnessing Violence Effects
Language: en |