Citation

Morrow EP. Sex. Abuse 2019; ePub(ePub): 1079063219858062.

Affiliation

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1079063219858062

PMID

31272331

Abstract

Empathy has an important role in promoting proper societal functions. Those who violate societal functions, such as those convicted of having committed a criminal offense, are theorized to possess deficits in their empathic capacity. This assumption has been adopted by many criminological models, including for individuals convicted of a sexual offense (ICSO). However, contradictory research results have resulted in conflicting theories regarding the level of empathy within ICSO. This meta-analysis compiled available data to provide empirical clarity in a divided theoretical field.

RESULTS of the meta-analysis indicate that ICSO have lower levels of cognitive (Hedges's g = -.303, p =.007) and general empathy (Hedges's g = -.188, p =.020) than those in the general population but do not have significantly lower levels of affective empathy (Hedges's g =.023, p =.849). Several moderator analyses were conducted, including type of sexual offense, assessment instrument used, and age at conviction.

Language: en

Keywords

empathy; meta-analysis; sexual offenses